(Reuters) – The European Union saw a 16% increase in deaths in July as record-breaking heatwaves hit parts of the continent, its highest level since the start of the year, published data showed. Friday by Eurostat.
Heatwave episodes that swept through southern European countries in July, sparking wildfires in Spain, France and Portugal, also led to thousands of extreme heat-related deaths, raising concerns about climate change and the increase in the frequency and intensity of these phenomena.
The EU thus recorded around 53,000 additional deaths in July compared to the monthly averages for the period 2016-2019, the statistical office said.
Eurostat defines excess mortality as the number of deaths, from all causes combined, during a crisis, higher than that which could be observed under so-called normal conditions.
“Based on the information available, part of the increase in mortality in July 2022 compared to the same month in the last two years may be linked to the heat waves that affected parts of Europe during the reference period. “, he indicated.
A 16% excess mortality is “an unusually high value” for a month of July, Eurostat stressed.
The block experienced a 3% excess mortality over the same period in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 6% in 2021.
Spain and Cyprus recorded the highest excess mortality in July, more than double the EU average, with rates of 37% and 33% respectively
In July, Spain experienced the earliest heat wave in more than 40 years, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the south and center of the country.
France experienced an excess mortality of 14.1% last July.
(Report Diana Mandiá in Gdansk, edited by Kate Entringer)