Belgium Records Nearly 3,000 Excess Deaths During Summer Heatwaves
Belgium recorded nearly 3,000 excess deaths during a summer marked by record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires. Health authorities linked the mortality spike to the extreme temperatures, which were the highest in the nation's history.
Why it matters
The data provides further evidence of the human cost associated with climate change and extreme weather events in Europe.
Belgium logged nearly 3,000 excess deaths during successive heatwaves since June, health authorities said Thursday, days after this summer was confirmed as the hottest on record in the northern European nation.Some 365 excess deaths were observed between July 28 and August 16, when Belgium sweltered under its third heatwave of the season, which also saw the beginning of the country's worst wildfire in modern history. That represented a "slight" uptick of seven percent more deaths than normal, the Sciensano national public health institute said.The figure added to a grim tally racked up during the previous two bouts of high temperatures, the institute said.Belgium logged an excess mortality rate of 49 percent between June 18 and July 3, with 2,035 extra deaths.Another…
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