BERLIN — Germany recorded an estimated 5,120 heat-related deaths through June 28, with most occurring during the final week of the month, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
The RKI estimated that 4,310 of the heat-related deaths occurred during the final week of June, when the average weekly temperature reached 26 degrees Celsius.
Unlike deaths directly attributed to heatstroke, the figure is based on a statistical model that compares mortality data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office with temperature records from the German Weather Service.
Researchers estimate how many deaths would have occurred if average weekly temperatures had remained at or below 20 degrees Celsius, the threshold the RKI uses to assess heat-related mortality. They also adjust for other factors that may influence death rates.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, about 23,600 people died during the final week of June, nearly 30% more than the average of about 18,200 deaths recorded during comparable periods in previous years.
Alexandra Schneider, deputy director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich, said the estimate is based on a statistical relationship between temperature and mortality. She said the figure is plausible because temperatures remained consistently high during the period.
Schneider said heat-related deaths extend beyond cases of heatstroke. High temperatures can worsen chronic illnesses and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, particularly during periods of sustained heat.
She also said cold-related deaths remain higher than heat-related deaths across Germany and Europe, but rising temperatures linked to climate change are increasing the overall number of heat-related deaths.
Paramedic Jonas Sonnenstuhl said emergency responders saw more heat-related medical emergencies, including strokes, heart attacks and complications among patients with existing health conditions. He also said prolonged high temperatures placed additional strain on ambulance crews and hospital staff during the heatwave.
