263 Persons Reported De¶d In Recent London Heatwave Amid Climate Change Risks, Research Shows

263 Persons Reported Dead In Recent London Heatwave Amid Climate Change Risks, Research Shows

The figures, based on peer-reviewed methods, are estimates rather than an official count, but align with previous data which found that 3,000 people died in the UK’s summer heatwave of 2022.

An estimated 263 extra people in London are likely to have died during the recent heatwave, according to a new research that has triggered fresh warnings about how poorly prepared Britain’s buildings and services are for extreme heat.

 

Last week, temperatures in the capital soared to 34.7C (94.5F) as an amber health alert was issued, warning of pressure on hospitals, SkyNews reports.

 

While Wimbledon players relied on ice packs to stay cool in the baking sun, scientists from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that climate change effectively tripled the number of heat-related deaths.

 

“Just two or three extra degrees in a heatwave can be ‘the difference between life and death’ for many people,” said Dr Fredi Otto from Imperial College London.

 

“Climate change is an absolute game changer when it comes to extreme heat, but still very much under-recognised,” she said.

 

The figures, based on peer-reviewed methods, are estimates rather than an official count, but align with previous data which found that 3,000 people died in the UK’s summer heatwave of 2022.

 

Dr Ben Clarke from Imperial said, “Even without climate change, many places in Europe likely would have experienced a period of hot weather in the past couple of weeks.

 

But climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous.”

 

Across 12 major European cities, around 2300 deaths were linked to the same period of intense heat, with two-thirds attributed to climate change pushing temperatures higher.

 

Older people, pregnant women, young children and outdoor workers remain most at risk, especially in buildings that trap heat.

There are growing calls for urgent upgrades to schools, homes and hospitals to cope with rising temperatures.

 

“Alongside health, our education sector and schools are not fit to deal with heat,” said Dr Chloe Brimmicombe, who was not involved in the study.

 

“There has been no strategy from multiple governments to adapt the health, social and care sector buildings to heat, despite calls and research highlighting a huge need,” she said.