LONDON: Europe's record-breaking heatwave last month saw England and Wales register nearly 1,700 extra deaths in just one week, early data shows, while Portugal and Spain counted another 1,700.
The figures, which will likely change as records are updated, give the first indication of heat-related deaths when temperatures from London to Madrid hit nearly 40 degrees Celsius or higher.
The data for England and Wales released on Tuesday by Britain's Office for National Statistics counts registered deaths during July 16-22 against what would be expected over the same period, based on 5-year mortality averages.
The toll for the Iberian Peninsula from the World Health Organization is also provisional.
But the figures from July came nowhere near the 70,000 heat-related deaths during a European heatwave in 2003.
Here are some of the factors that make some heatwaves deadlier than others.
SITUATIONAL
When and where a heatwave hits matters.
The 2003 heatwave hit in the first two weeks of August, closing businesses, wiping out crops and drying up rivers.
France's Paris region felt the effects most. Heatwaves are more intense in cities as concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat.
The peak coincided with the traditional holiday period, when many children were out of school and families on holiday, in some cases leaving elderly relatives behind.
Of the nearly 15,000 people who died in France, more than 11,000 were over the age of 75.
"A fair number of people said goodbye to grandma sitting in her house and went on vacation," said Matthew Huber, a global expert on heat stress at Purdue University. "Normally, there would have been people checking in" on them.
Doctors were also on holiday. "Emergency services weren't so prepared, and they didn't have people on call," said Mathilde Pascal, a researcher with the French Public Health Agency.
France is now baking in its third heatwave of the 2022 summer, hitting wildlife as well as humans.
ADAPTATION
After the 2003 disaster, many European countries created heatwave action plans and began issuing early warnings. Experts say preparing for extreme heat can save lives.
"More people know what to do in response to a heatwave," said Chloe Brimicombe, a heatwave researcher at the University of Reading in Britain. But some countries are simply better equipped than others: almost 90% of U.S. homes have air conditioning, compared with just 20% of European households, according to U.S. federal statistics.
But technology can't always help. This year, Palestinians living on the crowded Gaza Strip are living through a searing summer heatwave that has been made worse by power cuts that leave them without electricity for as much as 10 hours a day.
Nearly a third of the U.S. population was under a heat warning last month, with forecasts predicting more extreme heat this month.
People living in poorer communities and the homeless are at higher risk. Read full story
During last year's heatwave in Phoenix, Arizona, 130 of the 339 people who died were homeless, local health officials said.
Some U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have hired 'heat officers' to help communities cope by handing out water bottles or guiding people to air-conditioned cooling centers.
"The risk of heat-associated death among our unsheltered neighbors is 200 to 300 times higher than the rest of the population," Phoenix heat officer David Hondula said.
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE
People who live in warm-weather countries have typically acclimated to high heat. As a person is repeatedly exposed to high temperatures, they develop a lower heart rate and core body temperature over time, improving their tolerance.
So the temperature at which people start to die from heat-related illness varies depending on location, as does the related 'Minimum Mortality Temperature'(MMT) when all deaths from natural causes reach their lowest point.
"If you're living in India, the MMT is much higher than if you're in the UK," Huber said.
Recent research also suggests that the MMT of an area can increase as heat rises. For every 1C rise in average summertime temperatures in Spain between 1978 and 2017, for example, scientists found a 0.73C increase in MMT, a study published in April in Environmental Research Letters journal said.
But with much still unknown about extreme heat and human endurance, scientists are not sure if the changes they are seeing in MMTs over time might also be related to people being more aware of the dangers, or better equipped to deal with them.
"There are several possible explanations, and we still don't know which is the most important cause," Huber said.
Reuters
Wed Aug 03 2022
![Why some heatwaves prove deadlier than others Why some heatwaves prove deadlier than others](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/41659501836_LONDON.jpg)
A man rests in a shade on the bank of river Thames during a heatwave, in London, Britain. - REUTERS
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-03/51552997658_minum.jpg)
Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas
Malaysia tidak akan berdepan dengan cuaca panas melampau seperti yang pernah berlaku pada tahun 1998 dengan suhu yang tertinggi berada pada paras 40 Darjah Celsius.
![Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/51367839221_295x200.jpg)
Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris
Pengepaman air dari Sungai Gerisik di Muar ke empangan Melaka akan diteruskan bagi menampung keperluan para penduduk.
![Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap Sangat tidak sihat Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap Sangat tidak sihat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/51394685077_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap "Sangat tidak sihat"
Bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di kawasan Pelabuhan Klang berada di tahap 'Sangat tidak sihat' yang mencecah 229 pada jam 10 malam.
![Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap berbahaya Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap berbahaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393839627_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap "berbahaya"
Bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di kawasan Pelabuhan Klang berada di tahap berbahaya yang mencecah 317 pada jam 4 petang.
![SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/51368964475_295x200.jpg)
SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga
Tiada sebarang perubahan akan dilakukan pada pelan catuan air peringkat kedua yang bermula Ahad lalu berikutan pengurangan pelepasan air mentah.
![Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393895970_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat
Hanya tinggal dua bandar sahaja yang mencatatkan bacaan IPU 'Tidak Sihat' iaitu Nilai dan Banting yang merekodkan bacaan 102.
![Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393895970_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor
Setakat pukul 8 pagi ini, Pelabuhan Kelang merekodkan bacaan 132, diikuti Banting (133), Shah Alam (126), Petaling Jaya (127) dan Kuala Selangor (108).
![SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/51393334638_120x90.jpg)
SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor menyenaraikan kawasan terbabit pelan catuan bekalan air di Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat dan Sepang bermula 27 Feb hingga 31 Mac ini.
![UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup? UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/71393237417_120x90.jpg)
UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup?
Berapakah jumlah minima air untuk sehari yang anda perlukan pada waktu darurat? Berikan pendapat anda di dalam undian berikut.
![Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/51391651346_295x200.jpg)
Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN
Keputusan permohonan daripada Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) itu dijangka akan diketahui minggu ini.