Heat wave: European countries report 3,700 excess deaths
Thousands of excess fatalities have been recorded across Europe following last week's heat wave, especially among older people. In France, the prime minister is facing
Thousands of excess fatalities have been recorded across Europe following last week's heat wave, especially among older people. In France, the prime minister is facing a no-confidence vote over the crisis. At least 3,700 excess deaths have been recorded in France, Belgium and the Netherlands alone as a result of the June heat wave that sent temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F). Experts have said the heat wave, which lasted from about June 20-28, was the worst on record in Europe, and authorities have warned that the fatality figures are preliminary and could rise. France recorded 2,025 excess deaths, according to Health Minister Stephanie Rist, an increase of 29.1% on usual figures. While people over the age of 65 accounted for the largest percentage of deaths, there was also a spike in deaths among 45-64-year-olds, Public Health France said. Deaths at home rose by over 90% between June 22-28 compared to the previous week, the country's public health authority said in a statement, while deaths in nursing homes and healthcare facilities also increased. "Mortality will... be higher than these initial figures suggest," the authority warned. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faces a no-confidence vote in parliament, possibly on Monday, over his government's handling of the extreme heat, which disrupted daily life, forcing schools to close and trains to be canceled.
Europe's heat wave: The worst is yet to come To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Belgium reports 'unprecedented' heat In neighboring Belgium, the Health Ministry said it registered 1,222 additional deaths between June 18 and June 29, an increase in excess mortality of about 39% above normal. "Such a level of excess mortality during a heat wave is unprecedented in our country," the ministry said in a statement, noting that Belgium had recorded "seven tropical days of temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F)" as well as "abnormally" warm nights. The peak in Belgium was reached on Friday, June 26, when most of the country was placed under orange or red heat alerts, prompting authorities to cancel a slew of events including a reenactment of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Further north in the Netherlands, Dutch authorities said the heat wave led to around 480 excess deaths, mainly in the south and east of the country where temperatures were highest. Like in Belgium and France, most of the excess fatalities were recorded among older people. Seville's efforts to beat the heat To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Heat wave: temperature records broken across Europe More than two-thirds of Europe's 410-million population experienced temperatures over 35°C during the heat wave, according to an analysis by the AFP news agency.
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