More than 1,000 people have died in Europe as a record-breaking heat wave moves its way through the continent, with the death toll expected to rise in the coming weeks.
Roughly 360 heat-related deaths occurred in Spain between July 10 and 15, with another 659 in Portugal, according to health officials in each country. The heat wave is set to hit the United Kingdom and France next as officials brace for record-breaking temperatures and predicting thousands more deaths. The complete death toll won’t be available for weeks.
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“This heat wave has been well forecast for nearly a week, so the hope is that enough lead time will help limit the number of casualties — though, sadly, the toll is already quickly mounting,” Steve Bowen, head of catastrophe insight for Aon, told Axios.
The heat wave in Europe could last several weeks and has already caused widespread devastation, including wildfires in France, Spain, and Portugal that have displaced thousands of people from their homes. The heat has also been disruptive to public transportation, causing cuts in rail service due to concerns that the high temperatures will warp the tracks. The London Luton Airport halted flights on Monday after highway temperatures made it difficult for planes to take off from runways.
The rising temperatures are especially detrimental in Europe because air conditioners are not as widely used as they are in the United States. As a result, many homes are not properly equipped to withstand such temperatures, posing risks to many populations.
“[This] really enhances the concern and risk to the most vulnerable segments of the population, such as the elderly or the homeless,” Bowen said.
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U.K. officials are predicting 104-degree temperatures, a number never before reached in the country. The country’s previous highest temperature of 101.66 degrees that was recorded in 2019 is set to be broken as early as Monday.
France has also recorded high temperatures already this weekend, reaching a peak of 108.68 on Monday, just under six degrees cooler than the country’s all-time record of 114 degrees recorded in 2019.
