FRANKFURT, Aug 20 (Alliance News): Germany recorded around 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer as Europe experienced a series of severe heatwaves, according to official data released Thursday. Around 9,600 deaths occurred during a single week in late June, when temperatures exceeded 40°C in parts of the country, the Robert Koch Institute said. People aged over 75 accounted for the largest share of heat-related deaths. The institute said heat can directly cause deaths through conditions such as heatstroke, while in many cases it contributes to deaths among people with existing health conditions. It noted that heat-related deaths are often not listed directly on death certificates and therefore require statistical estimates. The latest figure is significantly higher than the 8,900 heat-related deaths recorded in Germany in 2018, while other years, including 2016, recorded 2,000 or fewer deaths. The institute attributed the differences to the varying severity of heatwaves.
