MyoTaw: Over 10,000 Excess Deaths in Europe in One Week Due to Late June Heatwave

Over 10,000 excess deaths in Europe in one week due to late June heatwave

July 13

According to data released by the European mortality monitoring network (EUROMOMO), a record-breaking heatwave that swept across Western Europe in late June resulted in 10,650 excess deaths across European countries within a single week.

Of these, over 9,000 were elderly individuals aged 65 and above. Experts say that the extreme temperatures caused heatstroke, and exacerbated cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, leading to life-threatening conditions.

Dr. Lasse Vestergaard, a senior physician responsible for EUROMOMO, stated, "It is unusual to see such a high number of deaths at this time of year. This is truly a significant figure. It is difficult to explain this spike in excess mortality without attributing it to the severe heatwave."

Scientists say that without human-induced climate change, which worsens global warming and makes heatwaves more frequent and intense, a late June heatwave like this would have been virtually impossible.

According to EUROMOMO data, the heatwave peaked between June 22 and 28 in France, Spain, Britain, and other European countries, with particularly high death tolls in France and Belgium.

Additionally, a separate study found that heatwaves in England and Wales during May and June caused approximately 2,700 deaths, of which 42 percent were directly attributed to the additional heat caused by global warming.

Ref & Photo; Reuters

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