Record number of deaths in the heat wave

 

Wiktor Nummelin/TT

 

Published 11.47

 

A man outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels covers himself with his jacket during the record heat at the end of June this year. Photo: Omar Havana/AP/TT

Almost twice as many people as before in Germany fell victim to this summer's heat wave. Thousands also died in Belgium.

In Germany, 16,300 people died from heat-related causes from June 1 to August 23, according to the health ministry's Robert Koch Institute. The death toll is thus almost double the previous record of 8,900 people during the summer of 2018, reports the AFP news agency.

In Belgium, 2,935 more people died than expected during the three heat waves that hit the country between June 18 and August 16. Researcher Pierre-Louis Deudon also warns of further consequences.

“Studies show that heat waves can reduce life expectancy by up to nine years,” Deudon told Le Soir newspaper.