Extreme heatwave causes significant excess mortality in Europe

Official data from EuroMOMO indicate that over 10,000 additional deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a severe heatwave in late June. Of these, more than 9,000 individuals were aged 65 or older. Experts attribute the excess mortality primarily to the extreme temperatures, which can cause heatstroke and exacerbate pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. In the United Kingdom, independent estimates from a team including Imperial College London and the Met Office suggest over 2,700 deaths may be linked to heat conditions during May and June. These figures include record-breaking temperatures of 37.7 °C in Norfolk and 35.1 °C at Kew Gardens. Scientists state such intense weather patterns are increasingly driven by human-induced climate change. While EuroMOMO data covers all deaths regardless of direct cause, UK figures rely on statistical modeling based on historical mortality and temperature data. Authorities had issued rare red warnings in parts of the UK during this period.