Heatwaves claimed an estimated 47,690 lives in Europe in 2023, making it the second deadliest year for heat-related deaths in the past decade, according to a study published on Monday in Nature Medicine.
The research, conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, analysed data from 35 European countries. The death toll is second only to 2022, when over 60,000 heat-related deaths were recorded.
Researchers cautioned that the 2023 figure is an estimate, with actual deaths potentially ranging from 30,000 to 66,000.
The study highlighted that southern European countries like Greece and Italy were significantly impacted, but regions less accustomed to extreme heat, such as the Baltic states, also suffered.
In France, the study attributed approximately 3,500 deaths to heat-related causes, slightly lower than official figures.
“European countries became acutely aware of the dangers of extreme heat following the 2003 heatwave,” the study’s lead author said. That event is estimated to have resulted in around 70,000 deaths across the continent.
While acknowledging the positive impact of heat preparedness plans implemented since 2003, researchers emphasised that more proactive measures are needed to address global warming.
(information from iefimerida.gr)
