More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the record-breaking heatwave that swept through western parts of the continent in late June, according to official data.
Data published by EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), showed that 10,650 excess deaths were recorded during the week, reports Reuters.
The data also revealed that the overwhelming majority of the deaths, more than 9,000 occurred among people aged 65 and above.
Extreme heat can prove fatal by triggering heat stroke or worsening cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with older people among the most vulnerable.
Scientists said there were no other known major factors, such as COVID-19 outbreaks, that could have contributed to the sharp rise in excess deaths during the period.
