France, the Netherlands and Belgium have recorded an excess of 3,700 deaths during the June heatwave that raised temperatures across Europe, and authorities warn the numbers are preliminary and could rise.
Experts have said the heat wave, which lasted from around June 20 to 28, was the worst on record in Europe, causing disruptions to power generation, damage to infrastructure and overwhelming health systems. The extreme heat was almost certainly driven by climate change, the scientists said.
An additional 2,025 deaths were recorded in France during the heat wave, with a particular increase in deaths among people over 45, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told local television on Friday.
Deaths at home increased 91% between June 22 and 28 compared to the previous week, while deaths in nursing homes and health care facilities also increased, the country's public health authority said in a bulletin.
“Mortality will be… higher than these initial figures suggest,” the authority warned.
'Unprecedented mortality data'
In Belgium, the Health Ministry said on Thursday it had recorded excess mortality of around 1,200 deaths between June 18 and 29, adding that 530 of the deaths occurred among people aged 85 and over. People under 65 years of age accounted for 180 of the excess deaths.
“Such excess mortality during a heat wave is unprecedented in our country,” the ministry said in a statement.
Authorities in the Netherlands said the heat wave caused around 480 additional deaths, mainly among people over 80.
