The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Europe could experience “more deadly weeks” as another powerful heatwave develops over the Atlantic.
According to forecasts, temperatures in Portugal and Southern Spain are expected to reach as high as 43°C (109°F) in the coming days.
WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, held an emergency meeting with representatives from 41 countries, the European Commission, and Civil society groups to review lessons from the recent heatwave and strengthen preparations for the next one.
Kluge said; “countries that already had heat-health action plans responded faster and were more effective in protecting their populations during the June heatwave. However, he noted that fewer than half of WHO’s European member states currently have such plans in place.”
- READ ALSO: Heatwave Sweeps Europe as Temperatures Soar
Experts described the June 20–28 heatwave as the most severe ever recorded in Europe, causing widespread disruption to power generation, damaging infrastructure, and placing enormous pressure on healthcare systems.
Scientists also said; “the extreme temperatures were almost certainly driven by climate change.”
France, the Netherlands, and Belgium recorded about 3,700 excess deaths, although officials cautioned that the figures remain preliminary and could increase. During the heatwave, temperatures reached 40°C in several parts of Europe.
Kluge also expressed concern that care home residents, homeless people, and socially isolated older adults continue to be inadequately protected across the region.
“The work now is on two fronts: fixing what failed in recent weeks before the next heatwave hits and building the kind of health systems that don’t just respond to extreme heat but are ready for it,” Kluge said.
Reuters
 has warned that Europe could experience “more deadly weeks” as another....){kind=link}