It is noted that more than 9 thousand of the deceased are people over 65 years old. Extreme heat waves can cause heat stroke, as well as worsen the course of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, so older people belong to the highest risk group.
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“Such an increase in mortality at this time of year is unusual. It is really very large,” Lasse Vestergaard, chief physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, told the news agency Reuters.
“This large increase in mortality is difficult to explain by anything other than extreme heat,” the doctor added.
The heat peak was reached during the week of June 22–28, when record high temperatures were recorded in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and several other countries.
At the same time, researchers did not identify other significant factors, such as COVID-19 outbreaks, that could explain the sudden increase in mortality by 10,650 more than usual.
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It is indicated that during the previous 8 weeks, the mortality rate in these countries was on average about 500 cases per week lower than usual.
According to data from Belgium’s public health institute Sciensano, mortality rates turned out to be the highest of all heat waves since observations began in 2000.
The heat caused power supply disruptions, schools were closed due to extreme weather conditions, and new temperature records were exceeded.
Extremely high temperatures affected not only local residents but also tourists. In some countries, railway traffic was disrupted, alcohol bans were introduced, and steam bath attractions were closed.
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