According to preliminary data released by the Belgian Ministry of Health on July 2 local time, between June 18 and 29, Belgium reported 1222 new deaths due to heatwaves. Nearly half of these deaths were suffered by elderly people aged 85 and above.
According to the report, due to the hot weather that has affected most of Europe, the number of deaths in Belgium is 39% higher than normal. Of these deaths, 530 were among people aged 85 and above. The new death toll among people under 65 also increased significantly, reaching 180 cases.
AFP quoted a statement from the Belgian Ministry of Health saying, "In our country, such high excess deaths during heatwaves are unprecedented."
It is reported that although Belgian official data shows that the country’s temperature did not break the June record, the capital Brussels experienced temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius for several days, with local areas even reaching temperatures between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius.
According to a report by the European version of 'Politico News Network' on the 3rd, Belgian French-speaking Socialist Party leader Paul Magnette criticized the government's inaction on the evening of the 2nd, saying, 'This climate and public health crisis has already caused hundreds of deaths, yet the ministers remain asleep and unresponsive.' More heatwaves are expected this summer, 'and we are talking about human lives.'
