Monday, July 13 – The European mortality monitoring network EuroMOMO has confirmed that 10,650 extra deaths were recorded in the 27 European countries monitored during the week of the peak of the extreme June heat wave, from June 22 to 28, in France, Spain, Britain, and other countries in western Europe.

The vast majority of the additional deaths, more than 9,000, involved people aged 65 and over.

The UK government has separately reported that over 2,700 may have died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the exceptionally hot periods.

The study estimates that around 550 people died as a result of the heat wave between 21 and 29 May, and nearly 2,200 died between 18 and 28 June’s extreme conditions in England and Wales.

A third heatwave is forecast to once again raise temperatures to extreme levels in the UK in the coming days.

Babies and older people are among those most at risk of harm during such extreme conditions, as well as those with existing health conditions. It can lead to more heart attacks, strokes and other potentially fatal emergencies.