At least 35,000 excess deaths have occurred across Europe during four record-breaking summer heatwaves
At least 35,000 excess deaths have happened across Europe during four record-breaking heatwaves this summer, according to a report by the Guardian. France recorded its hottest national average day on record, while more than 500 French weather stations recorded temperatures above 40°C. Germany saw 46 stations cross 40°C in late June, while parts of Spain experienced prolonged temperatures above 42°C. In France, preliminary figures showed 7,300 excess deaths between late May and July 22, although the data covered only about 80% of total mortality and did not include August. The World Health Organisation said in May that heat-related mortality in its European region had risen by more than 30% over the past two decades and warned that the toll could increase further as the climate crisis intensifies and Europe’s population ages.
The actual toll is likely to be significantly higher, with August data still unavailable for several countries and heat-related deaths often taking weeks or months to formally identify. Scientists have linked the increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves to human-driven global warming.