Europe’s heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has linked Europe’s unprecedented heatwave to 1,300 deaths.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement on X on Sunday, said, “Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average. More than 1300 excess deaths have been recorded since 21 June, linked to high temperatures in Europe.”
The WHO chief attributed Europe’s extreme heat experience to global warming, describing the heatwave as a silent killer that has disrupted school activities on the continent.
“Right now, 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling,” Mr Ghebreyesus said. “Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the ‘once-in-a-generation’ heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned.”
He added, “Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures.”
According to Mr Ghebreyesus, the WHO is working with its member states and partners to address the health threats posed by extreme heat by focusing on preparedness, prevention, and stronger health system responses.
“In particular, we are encouraging European countries to implement heat health action plans, as part of the broader agenda to protect health against climate change,” Mr Ghebreyesus explained.
France’s national health ministry on Sunday said around 1,000 more deaths than expected have been recorded in the country since Wednesday.
In Germany, temperature has hit 41.7c for three straight days, the hottest-ever recorded in the country, while the Czech Republic temperature hit 41.1C at Doksany, according to the meteorological institute CHMI.
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