Germany reports record 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer
BERLIN: Germany registered a record 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer as Europe struggled through a series of punishing heatwaves, the national public health institute said Thursday. The worst affected group were people over 75, and around 9,600 heat-linked deaths were recorded in one week in late June when Germany baked in temperatures over 40C, said the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Another…
Germany recorded a record 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, the national public health institute reported on Thursday. The health risk was most severe for people over 75, with around 9,600 heat-linked deaths reported in one week of late June when temperatures exceeded 40C, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Between late July and mid-August, an additional 4,000 heat-related fatalities were recorded, the institute said in its latest update.
This summer's heat and drought have impacted much of Europe, leading to a surge in heat-related mortality while exacerbating wildfires, causing extensive crop damage, and reducing water levels in major rivers. The RKI has compiled such heat mortality data for the past decade, with the previous record standing at 8,900 heat-related deaths in 2018.
A separate study by a medical publication estimated 10,000 heat deaths in 1994. Extreme heat can directly cause death, often through heatstroke, but more commonly contributes to fatalities in conjunction with pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular, lung, or kidney diseases. The RKI uses statistical models that compare summer deaths with and without heatwaves to estimate heat-related mortality.
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