Heatwave Claims Lives: Over 230 Estimated Deaths in Thuringia, Germany

Germany is experiencing a severe heatwave, with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimating approximately 230 heat-related deaths in the state of Thuringia alone this summer. This figure significantly surpasses the total recorded for any full year since 2016, when the previous highest estimate for Thuringia was 190 deaths in the summer of 2018.

The current summer is not yet over, and temperatures remain high. Nationwide, the RKI estimates that around 11,900 people have died from heat-related causes across Germany so far this year. The institute notes that this is a conservative estimate, and the total could be even higher.

During the week of June 22-28, when temperatures in many parts of Germany reached around 40 degrees Celsius, the RKI recorded approximately 9,600 heat-related deaths. The majority of these fatalities occurred among individuals aged 85 and older.

The RKI clarifies that direct heat exposure, such as heatstroke, causes death in only a few cases. More commonly, heat exacerbates pre-existing conditions, particularly cardiovascular, lung, and kidney diseases. These underlying conditions are often listed as the cause of death on death certificates, which is why the RKI conducts statistical calculations to estimate the true number of heat-related fatalities.