Germany logged 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer

This summer, Germany experienced a record-breaking heatwave, resulting in approximately 14,000 heat-related deaths, according to official data from the Robert Koch Institute. The majority of these fatalities occurred within a single week in late June, when temperatures soared above 40C. The majority of heat-related deaths were attributed to individuals aged 75 and older.

While heatstroke can directly cause death, most heat-related deaths occurred due to a combination of heat exposure and pre-existing medical conditions. It is important to note that heat is not typically listed as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, and statistical methods are employed to estimate the extent of heat-related fatalities.

In comparison to previous years, the 2018 heatwave saw 8,900 heat-related deaths, while years like 2016 saw fewer than 2,000.