European data record over 10,000 excess deaths during record-breaking heatwave

European nations registered more than 10,000 excess deaths during a severe heatwave that gripped the continent in late June, according to official data. The overwhelming majority of these fatalities, over 9,000, occurred among individuals aged 65 and older. The data, compiled by EuroMOMO, a network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, highlights the extreme vulnerability of older populations to heat-related illnesses. Extreme heat can lead to heatstroke and exacerbate pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Lasse Vestergaard, Chief Physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which hosts EuroMOMO, described the excess mortality as "unusual" and "really high" for that time of year. He stated that it is "difficult to explain this high excess mortality by anything but the extreme heat." Scientists emphasize that such a heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-induced climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. The figures, drawn from national mortality statistics across 27 European countries, encompass all causes of death during the week of June 22-28, when the heatwave peaked. While COVID-19 outbreaks were not considered a significant contributing factor, the data is preliminary and may be revised. France and Belgium were identified as the only countries experiencing "very high excess" mortality during the final week of June. Belgium's figures marked the highest excess mortality during any heatwave since 2000, according to its public health institute.

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To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It’s really high.