Europe Heatwave Causes Over 10,000 Excess Deaths

A severe heatwave that swept across Europe in late June 2023 led to more than 10,000 excess deaths, according to data released by the Euromomo mortality monitoring network, supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization. The report indicated that approximately 9,000 of these deaths occurred among individuals aged 65 and older, with extreme heat triggering heat strokes and exacerbating cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

Lass Vestergaard, chief physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, stated that the intensity of the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. The data compiled covered 27 European countries, showing that the week of June 22-28 saw a surge of 10,650 excess deaths compared to the average of 500 fewer deaths per week expected in the preceding eight weeks.

Belgium recorded the highest excess mortality during this period, with separate studies estimating 2,700 heat-related deaths in England and Wales during May and June.