According to a study published in the Scientific Journal NatureMedicineLast summer, nearly 62,000 people died in Europe during an extreme heat wave that affected the entire continent.
The summer of 2022 was the hottest on record in Europe and an estimated 61,727 people died from extreme heat, according to a new study that relies on estimates of excess deaths in Europe and mathematical models.
Southwestern Europe, which experienced heatwaves from May to August and broke temperature records, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, had the highest number of heat-related deaths.
The study reveals that the five countries with the highest number of heat-related deaths in summer are Italy (18,010), Spain (11,324), Germany (8,173), France (4,807) and the United Kingdom (3,469).
The week of July 18-24 was the most intense, with 11,637 people killed.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the summer of 202 was the hottest on record in Europe. May 2022 was the hottest in France since the 20th century, with temperatures reaching 33°C on May 27. Last June, parts of Spain and Italy topped 40C, breaking daily records. On July 18, the UK reached a record high of 40.2°C.
During the summer of 2003, 70,000 people died in Europe due to overheating. The maximum temperatures at that time were between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius (in July).
This year, weather events such as El Niño may increase the number of heat-related deaths worldwide. The Met Office, the UK’s weather service, has predicted that 2023 will be the hottest year on record anywhere in the world. Until now, Europe has not been spared from this. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, last June was the hottest on record in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. AccuWeather meteorologists predict that temperatures in June, July and August will be above the historical average in Europe and that June and July will be the driest months of summer. Last week, the World Health Organization announced the onset of El Niño, a weather phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years and causes warming oceans and temperatures.
Translated article from Forbes US – Author: Darreonna Davis
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