Germany heat-related deaths hit record 16,300

Germany recorded a record 16,300 heat-related deaths from June 1 to August 23 during Europe's severe summer heatwaves, official data from the Robert Koch Institute showed Thursday.

The total rose from 15,800 reported the previous week and covers one additional week. The public health authority said the largest share of heat-related deaths was among people older than 75.

The institute estimated that 9,600 of the deaths occurred in the week of June 22-28. It said it has collected heat mortality data for the past decade and that the previous record was 8,900 heat-related deaths in 2018.

A separate medical publication estimated 10,000 heat deaths in 1994. Countries across Europe have recorded more than 30,000 excess deaths during back-to-back heatwaves and drought that scientists have blamed on man-made climate change.