Germany has reported an estimated 5,120 heat-related deaths so far this year, according to the latest weekly update from the Robert Koch Institute. The majority of fatalities occurred during the intense heat period in late June, when weekly average temperatures remained well above 20 °C. Older adults accounted for the largest share of deaths, with approximately 4,270 occurring among people aged 75 years and older. The institute also reported a higher number of deaths among women, largely reflecting their greater representation in the oldest age groups.
The findings come as several European countries continue to report the health impact of extreme heat. The Copernicus Climate Change Service has identified June as the hottest on record in Western Europe, with an average temperature of 20.74 °C. During the June 20 to 28 heatwave alone, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands together…
