About 14,000 people may have died in Germany as a result of extremely high temperatures this summer, with approximately 10,000 fatalities recorded during a single week in late June, Report informs referring to a study by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
According to the institute's estimate, around 9,600 of the 14,000 heat-related deaths occurred between June 22 and June 28, when temperatures exceeded 41°C in several areas of Germany. People aged 75 and older constituted the most vulnerable demographic group.
The RKI evaluates the situation using a statistical model that compares mortality rates during weeks with abnormally high temperatures against periods without heatwaves.
Heat is rarely listed as a direct cause of death in official medical documentation. However, in most cases, elevated temperatures exacerbate pre-existing conditions, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal diseases, leading to death.
The RKI assessment covered the situation up to the first ten days of August.