Deadly heat claims 61,000 in Europe

Calls to protect old and vulnerable in summer danger

- DANNY HALPIN

THERE could have been more than 61,000 heat-related deaths across Europe last year during the summer heatwaves, a new study has found.

Mediterranean countries Italy and Spain suffered most, with 18,010 and 11,324 deaths respectively, and 3,469 people dying in the UK. There were no stats available for Ireland.

Heatwaves have long been known to cause a spike in deaths, especially for older people, whose bodies are less able to regulate temperature, and any pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses are exacerbated by higher temperatures.

Around 10 times as many women over 80 died compared with women and girls aged 0-64 and more than three times as many males over 80 died compared with those aged 0-64.

Led by Barcelona's Institute for Global Health, the researchers analysed more than 45million records of deaths in 35 countries between May 30 and September 4, 2022.

The European Statistical Office, Eurostat, has reported a high number of excess deaths across the continent during last summer - but this is the first time they have been linked explicitly to heat.

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