The heatwave in Belgium in late June caused 1,747 excess deaths, the highest toll ever recorded during a heatwave in the country since data collection began in 2000, while neighboring France is experiencing a new heatwave.

Preliminary figures released last week had shown 1,222 deaths during the heatwave between June 18 and 29.

Related News

Heatwave

The national public health institute Sciensano said in a statement yesterday that three main factors affect health during a heatwave: duration, intensity of temperatures, and ozone concentrations, noting that this wave recorded very high levels in each factor. Belgium is expected to experience a new heatwave in the coming days, with maximum temperatures exceeding 30°C for five consecutive days starting Saturday.

Rising Temperatures

In the same context, neighboring France is experiencing its third heatwave this summer, expected to last until next Tuesday, though milder than the previous one.

Nearly three-quarters of French departments have been placed on orange alert due to the heatwave, and the French meteorological agency warned that areas in the far northeast are also experiencing extremely high temperatures.

On Thursday, temperatures ranged between 35°C and 39°C, reaching 40-41°C near the Mediterranean coast in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, while in northern and eastern areas, temperatures generally ranged between 32°C and 36°C. Several fires remain active, fueled by winds that show no signs of easing.