Germany's deadly summer: Heatwaves claim record 15,800 lives, says Robert Koch Institute

Germany recorded a record 15800 heatrelated deaths this summer as the country and much of Europe grappled with a series of punishing heatwaves the Robert Koch Institute RKI Germanys national public health institute said on ThursdayPeople aged over 75 were the worstaffected group with around 9600 heatrelated deaths recorded in a single week in late June when temperatures in Germany rose above 40 degrees Celsius news agency AFP reported citing RKIAnother 4000 heatrelated deaths were recorded between late July and midAugust the institute saidThe figures highlight the growing health impact of extreme heat across Europe which has experienced repeated heatwaves and rising temperatures this summer Heat and drought have also fuelled wildfires damaged crops and contributed to falling water levels in major rivers across the continentGermanys worst heatrelated death tollThe RKI said it has been collecting heatrelated mortality data for the past decade The previous record was around 8900 heatrelated deaths recorded in 2018A separate report by a medical publication had estimated that around 10000 people died from heatrelated causes in Germany in 1994The latest figures also exceed the estimate of around 14000 heatrelated deaths reported by the RKI as of August 9 At that point nearly 10500 of those deaths were among people aged 75 and aboveThe RKI said its estimate for heatrelated mortality has continued to rise as the summer progressesExtreme heat can cause death directly including through heatstroke but it can also prove fatal by worsening existing health conditions People with cardiovascular lung or kidney diseases are particularly vulnerable when temperatures remain dangerously highThe RKI estimates heatrelated mortality using statistical methods that compare the number of deaths recorded during summer weeks with and without heatwavesOlder people particularly vulnerableOlder people face a particularly high risk from prolonged periods of extreme heat The RKI has previously noted a sharp rise in heatrelated excess mortality among people aged 75 and aboveThe latest figures come amid growing concern from health authorities over the impact of climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather eventsLast month the World Health Organizations WHO Regional Office for Europe warned that extreme heat poses a growing health challenge and called for stronger preparations by individuals and governmentsWHO Europe has described Europe as the fastestwarming continent with temperatures rising at around twice the global average rate It warned that deadly heat is also placing sudden pressure on essential services including health and social careWHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri P Kluge said heat had claimed more than 2 lakh lives across the region over the previous four years while heatrelated mortality had risen by 30 per cent over the past two decadesBut heat deaths are not inevitable Kluge said calling for early warning systems cooler cities greater access to water and shade support for vulnerable people and betterprepared health systems before temperatures peakThe record mortality figures in Germany underline the increasing toll of extreme heat and the importance of protecting vulnerable populations as heatwaves become more frequent and severeWith AFP and IANS inputs