Austria's Health Minister: '395 heat-related deaths in June alone is shocking'

Austria's Health Minister Korinna Schumann described the 395 heat-related deaths in June as "shocking," emphasizing that extreme heat poses a concrete danger to health and life, not just a comfort issue. This figure, the highest for June since 2017, underscores the visible consequences of climate change and the mounting challenges for the nation's health system.

The State Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) reported that the excessive mortality linked to extreme summer heatwaves in June reached 395. This number surpasses the previous June record of 335 deaths in 2019. AGES calculates these figures using a scientific model based on excess mortality, as official death certificates rarely cite extreme temperatures as a direct cause. However, physicians observe that high temperatures exacerbate pre-existing heart and lung conditions.

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The number of 395 deaths related to extreme heat is shocking. It clearly shows that heat is not just a matter of comfort, but a concrete danger to health and life.

Last summer, from June to September, Austria recorded 449 heat-related deaths. The current year's June total of 395 suggests an average of 13 daily deaths due to extreme heat. The "boiling" summer of 2024 has already seen 989 heat-related fatalities nationwide, the highest since 2017. Vienna set a new heat record on June 28, reaching 40 degrees Celsius, while Bad Deutsch-Altenburg recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius, a new Austrian record for June.

In response to these alarming statistics, Minister Schumann announced that the data and records will be integrated into the National Heat Protection Plan. This plan aims to improve public information services and existing preventive measures, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and individuals with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

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The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly visible in Austria, posing new challenges for our health system.