The World Health Organization says more than 1,300 excess deaths have been linked to Europe's ongoing heatwave since June 21, as extreme temperatures strain health systems, disrupt infrastructure and raise climate concerns.
The number of excess deaths attributed to the European heat wave has risen to more than 1,300, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It was stated that prolonged periods of hot weather are raising health concerns, especially among the elderly and those with underlying illnesses.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, said heat stroke is still one of the leading causes of death related to severe weather. He explained that many homes, schools, and other buildings in Europe were designed under cooler conditions and lack the necessary features to withstand hot weather for an extended period.
The number of deaths that exceed the average has reached about 1,000 in France alone since the middle of last week. Most of the dead were at least 65 years old, according to health officials. The number is expected to rise as officials conduct investigations into deaths from private residences and nursing homes.
The heat wave has now spread further east into parts of Europe. There were about 381 million people who experienced temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius over the weekend, with almost 191 million people exposed to temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius. In various countries, the temperature has surpassed 40 degrees Celsius, impacting transport facilities, electricity supplies, and other essential public infrastructure.
There have also been reported cases of more people suffering from heat stroke in hospitals in different countries. Some emergency actions have also been taken, including the closure of schools and warning people not to go out at the time when it is hottest.
According to researchers, it is rare to experience such an event at this time of the year. As per the World Weather Attribution, the impact and probability of the heat wave have increased due to climate change. The European region is warming up faster than other continents in the past few decades, resulting in extreme heat wave events.
The WHO has asked governments to prepare heat action plans, improve early warning systems, and take actions to safeguard vulnerable groups, as heat waves will be occurring frequently in Europe.
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