Belgium deaths spiked more than estimated in June heatwave
The country saw 1,747 excess deaths during the June 18 to July 1 period
An intense heatwave in Belgium caused significantly more deaths than usual in June, health authorities said Thursday, revising previous figures, the highest excess mortality ever since records began in 2000.
The country saw 1,747 excess deaths during the June 18 to July 1 period, the Sciensano public health institute said, up from the 1,222 estimate for June 18-29 published last week.
That was an excess mortality rate of 47 per cent, it said.
Although Belgium did not officially break its temperature records for June, readings hit 35C in Brussels for several consecutive days, and climbed locally to between 38C and 40C.
The peak in excess mortality was reached on June 27 and 28.
A new heatwave is expected in Belgium in the coming days, with highs potentially exceeding 30C for five consecutive days starting Saturday.