LONDON: At least 2,700 people died in England and Wales as a result of heatwaves that struck in May and June, according to a new study released on Monday.
Researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used weather data, climate models and previous studies on excess deaths during heatwaves to estimate the toll.
The United Kingdom and much of Europe experienced two severe heatwaves in May and June, with England recording monthly temperature highs of 35.1°C and 37.7°C.
Mark McCarthy, science manager at the Met Office’s climate attribution team, said the heatwaves were extreme for the UK and western Europe, particularly because they occurred so early in the year.
The study estimated that around 550 people died due to heat between May 21 and 29, while nearly 2,200 deaths were linked to the June 18-28 heatwave.
Researchers said climate change played a major role by making heatwaves more frequent and intense. They estimated that maximum daytime temperatures were 3°C to 4°C higher than they would have been without global warming.
The UK Health Security Agency is expected to publish its official estimate of heat-related deaths in the coming weeks.
Lea Berrang Ford, head of UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security, said the findings showed the growing threat climate change poses to public health.
The Climate Change Committee has warned that Britain is not ready for worsening climate impacts.
