More than 10,000 people died across Europe during an intense eight-day heatwave that swept the continent in late June, according to the latest report by the European mortality monitoring network, EuroMOMO.
The organization said the unusually high temperatures led to a sharp rise in deaths over a short period, highlighting the growing public health risks posed by extreme heat.
The report, released on Sunday, said the heatwave had its greatest impact across the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between June 20 and June 28. During that period, more than 10,000 deaths were recorded.
Nearly 9,000 of those who died were aged 65 or older, underscoring the severe impact of extreme heat on elderly populations.
Lasse Vestergaard, a senior physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut and an official with EuroMOMO, told Reuters that most of the deaths were linked to heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke, cardiovascular complications and respiratory problems.
He described the exceptionally high death toll within such a short period as highly unusual for this time of year.
Although the report did not provide country-by-country mortality figures, it said France and Belgium experienced comparatively higher numbers of heat-related deaths.
According to official data, heatwaves have caused an average of around 500 deaths per week across European Union countries in recent weeks. Health experts warned that the toll could rise further if high temperatures persist.
Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that Europe recorded its highest weekly death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May and June 2020, more than 1,500 deaths were recorded in a single week.
Scientists believe that human-induced climate change is one of the primary drivers behind the recent extreme heatwave. They warn that if current climate trends continue, Europe is likely to face more frequent and prolonged heatwaves in the future, posing significant challenges to public health and the environment.
Source: Reuters