WHO: Europe heatwave linked toover 1,300 deaths

International

MORE than 1,300 excess deaths have been linked to high temperatures across Europe as several countries recorded unprecedented temperatures amid an ongoing heatwave.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described heat stress as a “silent killer” and warned that Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, warming at twice the global average.

He said climate change has caused what were once considered once-in-a-generation heatwaves to occur almost annually and called on European countries to implement heat health action plans.

Germany experienced its hottest day on record for the third consecutive day after a weather station in Coschen, near the Polish border, registered 41.7C on Sunday, a report by BBC stated.

The Czech Republic also recorded 41.1C in Doksany, while Poland reached a record 40.5C in the town of Slubice.

The extreme heat has prompted authorities across Europe to implement measures aimed at reducing heat-related illnesses.

In France, the national health ministry reported around 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday, with many of the additional fatalities occurring among people aged 65 and older.

The country has also recorded at least 74 drowning deaths since the beginning of the heatwave, most of them occurring in unsupervised bodies of water, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

The record-breaking June heatwave has been attributed to a “heat dome” effect, a weather pattern in which sinking air compresses and heats as it reaches the ground while preventing cloud formation and allowing strong sunshine to drive temperatures even higher.(Jhenevive Etang, PIT Comm Intern)