Belgium Reports 39% Surge in Deaths During June Heatwave

Belgium recorded 39 percent more deaths than expected between June 18 and 29 as a heatwave gripped much of Western Europe, while France also reported a sharp increase in mortality, Nathan Rennolds reported for Euronews.

A severe heatwave across Western Europe contributed to higher mortality rates in Belgium and France.

Public Health France reported that deaths between June 22 and 28 increased by 29.1 percent compared with the previous week. The agency said this amounted to 2,025 additional deaths during the period.

The Île-de-France and Pays de la Loire regions recorded the largest increases in mortality, rising 62.8 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, provisional data from Belgium's health ministry showed 1,222 excess deaths between June 18 and 29, with more than half occurring among people aged 85 and older.

"Such a level of excess mortality during a heatwave is unprecedented in our country," the ministry said.

Temperatures exceeded 40°C in parts of Europe last week, triggering a surge in emergency callouts and placing additional pressure on hospitals, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).