Europe has seen a dramatic increase in mortality rates this year due to an intense heatwave in late June, which is believed to have caused more than 10,000 additional deaths across the continent. Researchers analysing excess mortality, defined as the difference between expected and actual deaths, reported this alarming trend amidst record temperatures.

The early summer heat has raised concerns, especially as many deaths related to heat may not be officially recognised as such on death certificates. For example, individuals suffering heart attacks exacerbated by high temperatures may only have their cause of death listed as a heart attack, obscuring the true impact of extreme heat.

Past heat events have also raised mortality rates significantly, with 2003 noted as the deadliest year when approximately 70,000 people lost their lives to heat-related causes in Europe. Experts warn that the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves are closely linked to climate change, primarily accelerated by the use of fossil fuels.

Statistics from EuroMOMO and Local Authorities

The EuroMOMO mortality monitoring network, which collates data from around two dozen nations, reported an estimated 14,260 excess deaths in the week concluding on June 28. Over 12,000 of these fatalities involved individuals aged 65 and older, amidst a total of 84,583 deaths registered that week, significantly higher than for preceding and following weeks.

Lasse Vestergaard from Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, which coordinates EuroMOMO, highlighted that the spike in deaths was likely attributed to the extensive heatwave affecting multiple countries. He noted that such a substantial increase in mortality within a single week is “highly unusual,” indicating a direct link to the heat conditions experienced.

While EuroMOMO does not provide specific figures for individual countries, it indicated that France, Belgium, and Germany experienced the highest rates of excess mortality during this heatwave. The Robert Koch Institute in Germany directly linked 6,830 deaths to heat exposure as of early July, with the majority of victims being older adults.

Regional Health Impacts and Responses

Within the United Kingdom, the Met Office estimated that around 2,700 individuals died from heat-related causes during heatwaves in May and June across England and Wales. Fatalities included approximately 550 in late May and around 2,200 in late June, coinciding with new national records for temperatures exceeding 35.1 degrees Celsius in May and surpassing 37 degrees in June.

In France, an increase of at least 2,000 deaths was noted in the week from June 22 to June 28 compared to the week prior, with temperatures reaching unprecedented levels. Figures revealed that on June 24 and 25, the country experienced its hottest days ever recorded, with average daily temperatures topping 30 degrees Celsius across various monitoring stations.

Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute estimated that 937 deaths in June were related to excessive heat, while the AEMET weather agency denoted the month as the second-hottest June on record, with temperatures exceeding average norms by 3.2 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, Belgium reported 1,747 excess deaths linked to the heatwave from June 18 to July 1, noting the unusual breadth of this heat event compared to typical mortality patterns in similar circumstances.

Initial figures from the Netherlands indicated around 480 additional deaths due to the June heat, particularly affecting regions with higher temperatures. The Dutch meteorological service documented the highest June temperature on record at 36.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing previous benchmarks set in 1947.

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