Belgium heatwave caused 1,747 excess deaths: Sciensano

Belgium recorded 1,747 excess deaths during an intense heatwave from June 18 to July 1, the Sciensano public health institute said, revising a previous estimate upward.

Sciensano said the toll represented a 47 percent excess mortality rate and was the highest excess mortality recorded since its records began in 2000. Last week, the institute had estimated 1,222 excess deaths for the shorter June 18-29 period.

Belgium did not officially break its June temperature records, but temperatures reached 35C in Brussels for several consecutive days and locally climbed to between 38C and 40C. Sciensano said the peak in excess mortality came 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.