The heatwave that struck Germany at the end of June caused thousands of additional deaths, according to calculations by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Estimates based on a heat model attribute the extremely high temperatures to at least 5,100 heat-related deaths, the RKI announced on Thursday in Berlin.
However, the true impact of the extreme heat could be even greater. As the Federal Statistical Office had already reported, the mortality rate during the heatwave week of 22 to 28 June was approximately 30% above the average for the same period the previous year. During that week, some 23,700 people died in Germany – about 6,800 more than in the two preceding weeks, according to the statistics agency. Excess mortality refers to the phenomenon where, during a given period, more people die than would normally be expected.
Temperatures at the end of June reached around 40°C in many parts of Germany, a level of intensity never before recorded in the country. In the greater Paris region, the increase was even steeper, with health authorities reporting a 62% rise. In the week of 22 June, France recorded an "increase of 29.1%, which corresponds to 2,025 additional deaths" compared to the previous week. People over 65 accounted for the largest share of fatalities.
No comparable data is yet available for Luxembourg.
