Germany hit by record 16,300 heat-related deaths

Germany has recorded a record 16,300 heat-related deaths during the severe summer heatwaves across Europe, official data revealed on Thursday. The number of excess deaths in the country rose from 15,800 reported last week by the Robert Koch Institute, a government health authority, to the latest figure stretching from June 1 to August 23, one week beyond the previous statistics.

The overwhelming majority of these fatalities were among individuals aged 75 and above, according to the public health authority's statement. The institute estimated that 9,600 of the deaths occurred in the week of June 22-28, surpassing the previous record of 8,900 heat-related deaths in 2018. Scientists have attributed the extreme weather conditions to man-made climate change, which has led to prolonged droughts and increased temperatures.