More than 3,700 “excess” deaths were recorded across France, Belgium and Netherlands during a recent heatwave, Reuters reports, citing early estimates from health monitoring data.
The figure reflects additional deaths above expected seasonal levels during a period of extreme temperatures that swept across Western Europe in early summer.
Health authorities in the affected countries are continuing to analyze the full impact of the heatwave, with older people and those with pre-existing health conditions identified as the most vulnerable groups.
Extreme heat events have become more frequent in Europe in recent years, with scientists linking the trend to rising global temperatures and climate change.
