Germany reports record 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer
A public health institute says people over 75 were the worst affected, with around 9,600 heat-linked deaths recorded in one week when Germany experienced temperatures above 40C.
Germany has recorded a record-breaking 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, according to the national public health institute, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The heat and drought that have plagued much of Europe this summer have contributed to a spike in heat-related mortality, fueling wildfires and devastating crops. The worst-affected group were people over 75, with around 9,600 heat-linked deaths recorded in a single week late June when temperatures soared above 40℃.
Between late July and mid-August, another 4,000 heat-related deaths were reported by the institute. This summer's heatwaves and drought conditions have battered much of Europe, causing a surge in heat-related deaths while also exacerbating wildfires, reducing crop yields, and lowering water levels in major rivers. The RKI has collected such heat mortality data for the past decade, with the previous record standing at 8,900 heat-related deaths in 2018.
A separate report by a medical publication estimated around 10,000 heat deaths in 1994. Extreme heat can directly cause death through heatstroke, but more often it proves fatal in combination with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular, lung, or kidney diseases. The RKI uses statistical methods to model heat-related mortality by comparing deaths during summer weeks with and without heatwaves.
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