Europe's heatwave causes over 10,000 excess deaths in one week

Europe is grappling with an unprecedented heatwave, which has resulted in over 10,000 excess deaths in a single week in late June. The extreme temperatures have triggered a cascade of problems, including the suspension of nuclear power plant operations and a surge in large-scale wildfires across the continent.

Data from the EuroMOMO (European Mortality Monitoring) network, supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed a sharp increase in excess deaths. Between June 22 and June 28, the 27 European countries monitored recorded as many as 10,650 excess deaths. An excess death is defined as the number of deaths above what is normally expected for a given period.

Lasse Vestergaard, a senior physician at the Danish National Institute of Public Health and EuroMOMO coordinator, described the situation as highly unusual. "Such a large number of excess deaths at this time of year is exceptional," he stated, adding, "It is difficult to explain such a high number of excess deaths by anything other than the extreme heatwave."

Of the excess deaths recorded, more than 9,000 were among individuals aged 65 and older. Belgium and France reported particularly high levels of excess mortality. In England and Wales alone, an estimated 2,700 deaths during the May-June heatwave period were attributed to heat-related causes.

The heatwave's impact extends to critical infrastructure. EDF, France's state-owned power company, announced the suspension of operations at three nuclear power plants and reduced output at eight others. This is because French nuclear plants use river water for cooling, and rising river temperatures due to the heatwave have forced operational adjustments to comply with environmental regulations. This marks the second suspension of operations in recent weeks due to record heat.

Wildfires are also raging across Europe. In France, a fire in the Forest of Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, led to the partial closure of the A6 highway, a major route connecting northern and southern France. High-speed rail services to southeastern France were also disrupted. French authorities anticipate that the total area affected by wildfires this year could reach 25,000 hectares, double the area affected during the same period last year.

In southern Spain's Andalusia region, a wildfire that began on July 9 in Almería burned 7,000 hectares, resulting in 13 deaths and 10 missing persons. Authorities have since lowered the emergency response level as the fire stabilized, allowing about 1,000 evacuated residents to return home. The UK's Environment Agency has warned of exceptionally high wildfire risk in parts of southern England and the Midlands, classifying them as the highest risk areas.

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Such a large number of excess deaths at this time of year is exceptional. It is difficult to explain such a high number of excess deaths by anything other than the extreme heatwave.