PARIS/FRANKFURT: France and Germany have recorded thousands of heat-related deaths this summer as Europe endures a series of intense and prolonged heatwaves, highlighting the growing health risks from extreme temperatures.
France recorded 7,307 excess deaths during periods of high temperatures between late May and July, according to health authorities. Nearly three-quarters involved people aged 75 and above, although excess deaths were recorded among all age groups aged 45 and older.
The figures have yet to be definitively attributed to heat, as the deaths were from all causes. Final figures are expected in the autumn.
France has experienced a record 52 heatwave days since mid-June, surpassing the previous record of 33 days in 2022. The country endured three major heatwaves — lasting 14 days in June, 16 days in July and a third that had continued for 22 days as of Aug 18.
June 24 and 25 were the hottest days ever recorded on average across mainland France, with the national temperature indicator reaching 30°C.
Germany, meanwhile, recorded about 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer, according to the Robert Koch Institute. About 9,600 occurred during a single week in late June, when temperatures exceeded 40°C.
People aged over 75 accounted for the largest share of Germany’s heat-related deaths. The health authority said heat often worsened existing medical conditions, meaning it was not usually listed as the underlying cause of death and had to be estimated using statistical methods.
The German figure surpassed the previous record of 8,900 heat-related deaths recorded in 2018.
The extreme heat comes as western Europe experiences an exceptionally hot summer, with drought and wildfires also affecting several countries.
France’s experience also highlights the longer-term trend. More than half of the country’s 54 recorded heatwaves since 1947 have occurred since 2010. The deadly 2003 heatwave remains France’s most severe based on intensity and duration, causing more than 15,000 deaths, but this year’s heatwaves have lasted considerably longer. – AFP
