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The old continent continues to face one of the worst climate crises in its modern history, as the exceptional heatwave that struck Europe last June turned into a 'silent killer' that continues to claim thousands of lives, amid serious concerns of further jumps in official statistics in the coming weeks as data updates continue.

Official national data from seven European countries revealed a horrifying tally that exceeded all expectations, reopening the file of climate change and its direct impact on human lives, especially the most vulnerable groups.

According to initial official statistics, the following figures were recorded during the peak of the heatwave:

12,000 deaths: recorded 'above the normal rate' in 7 major European countries including (Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg).

2,200 additional deaths: recorded by the British Meteorological Office in a short period of no more than 10 days (from 18 to 28 June).

This total tally, approaching 14,000 victims, remains preliminary and subject to increase, as health systems in some provinces are still verifying the final causes of weather-related deaths.

The elderly most affected

The World Health Organization stated that the vast majority of these deaths occurred among the elderly aged 65 and over.

This sharp increase in deaths among the elderly is attributed to the weak physical ability to adapt to sudden changes in temperature, in addition to pre-existing chronic diseases that extreme heat exacerbates.

The danger of 'cold' or 'silent' heatwaves lies in the way they affect the human body, as deaths are not limited to direct sun exposure, but occur through subtle means:

Direct heat strokes: which lead to the collapse of vital body functions and organ failure.

Complications of chronic diseases: record high temperatures cause severe strain on the heart muscle and blood vessels, and deterioration in the conditions of patients with respiratory diseases. These are the indirect reasons that led to the recording of this huge number of deaths 'above the normal rate'.