Walter Finch
AS the summer heat intensifies in Spain, a new report has revealed that the scorching heat that gripped Europe last year made 2023 the hottest year globally on record.
It was also the second deadliest, with more than 47,000 heat-related deaths recorded across the continent.
The research, published in Nature Medicine, found that Spain experienced more than 8,300 heat-related deaths last year, making it one of the countries most affected by the scorching temperatures.
However this figure is lower than the heat-related death toll from 2022, when 11,300 people died in Spain – and 61,600 worldwide.
Southern European countries bore the brunt of the heatwave, with Greece topping the list of countries with the highest death rate at 393 deaths per million inhabitants.
It was followed by Bulgaria with 229 deaths per million; and Italy with 209 deaths per million.
Spain (175 deaths per million), Cyprus (167 deaths per million), and Portugal (136 deaths per million) follow.
In total deaths, Italy takes the unfortunate top spot with 12,743 deaths, while Spain saw 8,352 and Germany suffered 6,376 heat-related deaths.
Following on are Greece, with 4,339; France, with 2,734; and Romania, with 2,585.
The study also highlighted the disproportionate impact of heat on vulnerable populations, with older adults and women being particularly at risk.
The mortality rate among women was found to be 55% higher than that of men, and those over 80 years old were particularly vulnerable, with a staggering 768% higher mortality rate compared to younger age groups.
The study reveals that the majority of these deaths occurred during intense heatwaves in mid-July and late August, periods when temperatures soared across Europe.
However, the research also showed that Europe has made progress in adapting to heatwaves, with measures such as early warning systems and public health campaigns helping to reduce the number of deaths.
