At least 3,700 excess deaths reported during heatwave in France, Belgium and Netherlands

Paris: France, the Netherlands and Belgium recorded more than 3,700 deaths during a heatwave in June that sent temperatures soaring across Europe. Officials warned that these figures are preliminary and could increase.

Experts said the heat wave, which lasted from approximately June 20 to 28, was the worst recorded heat wave in Europe, causing disruptions in electricity production, damaging infrastructure and overloading healthcare systems. The extreme heat is almost certainly caused by climate change, scientists said.

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France recorded 2,025 excess deaths during the heatwave, with an increase in deaths especially among people over 45, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told local television on Friday.

Between June 22 and 28, deaths at home rose 91% from the previous week, while deaths in nursing homes and health care facilities also increased, the country’s public health authority said in a bulletin.

“The death rate will be higher than these initial figures suggest,” the official warned.
‘UNIQUE’ DEATH DATAIn Belgium, more than 1,200 deaths were recorded between June 18 and June 29, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday, adding that 530 of the deaths were among people aged 85 and over. People under the age of 65 accounted for 180 of the excess deaths.

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“Such high death rates during a heat wave are unprecedented in our country,” the ministry said in a statement.

Authorities in the Netherlands said the heat wave caused approximately 480 deaths, mainly among people over the age of 80.