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Scientists estimate that the European heatwave has caused 2300 deaths.

According to a rapid analysis of the scientific literature published on Wednesday, around 2,300 people in 12 European cities died from heat-related causes during the severe heatwave which ended last week.

The study focused on the 10 days ending July 2 when temperatures in large parts of Western Europe reached 40 degrees Celsius.

According to a study by Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, of the estimated 2,300 deaths during this time period, 1,500 were linked to climate changes, which caused the heatwave to be more severe.

Climate change has made the world significantly hotter, making it more dangerous, said Dr Ben Clarke. He is a researcher from Imperial College London.

Researchers found that climate change has increased temperatures in 12 cities, including Barcelona, Madrid and London, by as much as 4 degrees Celsius.

Researchers used epidemiological models to estimate death rates. This includes deaths that were caused by heat, as well as deaths in which pre-existing conditions were exacerbated.

Scientists said that they used peer reviewed methods to quickly estimate the death toll because most heat related deaths are not reported officially and some governments don't release this data.

In a bulletin published on Wednesday, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service stated that June 2018 was the third hottest month on record for the planet, after the same months in 2024, and 2023.

Copernicus reported that Western Europe had its warmest month on record in June. Much of the region experienced "very strong heat-stress" conditions, defined as temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius and above.

Samantha Burgess is the strategic lead at Copernicus for climate. She said: "Heatwaves will become more intense, frequent and affect more people in Europe as a result of global warming."

According to new research from European health institutions, researchers in 2023 reported that up to 61,000 people could have died during Europe's scorching heatwaves of 2022. This suggests the countries' efforts in heat preparedness are failing fatally.

Over time, the average temperature of the Earth has risen due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These emissions are mainly caused by the burning fossil fuels. The increase in the baseline temperature means that temperatures can soar higher during a heatwave.

(source: Reuters)