Plus: Greece burns in worst wildfire of the year
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Satellite image shows a vast expanse of land in East Attica engulfed in smoke, with dense clouds obscuring the ground below (Credit: Planet Labs PBC) |
Extreme heat killed more than 47,000 people across Europe last summer, marking the continent's second deadliest year on record for heat-related mortality after 2022.
Scientists analysed mortality data from 823 regions in 35 European countries and temperature records in 2023 to arrive at the estimate in a study published on Monday.
The study also found that more women died of heat-related illnesses than men, with southern Europe, which has been scorched by record temperatures and rising wildfires due to the climate crisis, hit the worst.
The total death toll for the year reached 47,690, with 57 per cent of the deaths occurring during two major heatwaves in mid-July and late August. This was the second-highest heat-related death toll in Europe after 2022, when heatwaves contributed to more than 60,000 deaths.
The study's authors pointed out that the actual number of heat-related deaths in 2023 could be higher than reported. Due to the lack of daily mortality data, researchers had to rely on weekly death counts, which may have led to underestimates. They suggested that the true death toll was closer to 58,000.
Greece recorded the highest mortality rate at 393 deaths per million, followed by Bulgaria, Italy and Spain. More than 40 per cent of southern Europe was affected by extreme heat in July. The news comes as Greece is battling yet more wildfires. One person has died, while more than a dozen people are being treated for smoke inhalation as thick fumes covered Athens and nearby regions. For updates on the wildfires – follow our live blog here |
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