European Mortality: Estimates Link Heat Periods to at Least 35,000 Deaths
Vorläufige Analysen zeigen, dass mindestens 35.000 Todesfälle in Europa auf die Hitzewellen des Sommers zurückzuführen sind, eine Zahl, die Experten für potenziell zu niedrig halten. Wissenschaftler führen diese Ereignisse auf die globale Erwärmung zurück und weisen darauf hin, dass Hitze bestehende chronische Erkrankungen verschlimmert.
Preliminary data suggests that at least 35,000 people died in Europe due to the record heatwaves this summer. Experts suspect that this number might even be underestimated, as data for the month of August has not yet been included. Some countries have been particularly hard hit: Germany, France, and Spain alone recorded over 25,000 reported deaths.
Scientists attribute these extreme heat events directly to global warming caused by human activities. The scientific community emphasizes that heat does not act in isolation but often exacerbates existing health problems. Cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, in particular, can be further stressed by extreme heat.
These figures underscore the urgent link between climate change-related weather extremes and public health in Europe.