WHO Warns Europe of Another Deadly Heat Wave

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe could face more deadly weeks ahead as a new wave of extreme heat builds over the Atlantic. Temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain are expected to reach as high as 43°C in the coming days.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge held an emergency conference call with representatives from 41 countries and the European Commission to coordinate preparations.

He noted that fewer than half of the WHO's European member states have public health action plans in place for heat waves. The previous heat wave, which lasted from 20 to 28 June and saw temperatures reach 40°C, was the most severe on record.

It caused power outages, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed hospitals. France, the Netherlands and Belgium reported a combined 3,700 excess deaths, although the figure remains preliminary.

Experts attribute the increasingly frequent extreme heat events to climate change. According to Kluge, European countries still struggle to protect the most vulnerable groups, including homeless people, older adults and nursing home residents.

(Reuters, Max)