According to Reuters, the World Health Organization warned on July 7 that another severe heatwave is brewing over the Atlantic Ocean, and Europe may face “even more deadly weeks” in the future.
In the coming days, temperatures in southern Portugal and Spain are expected to rise to 43 degrees Celsius.
WHO Europe Regional Director Hans Krueger held an emergency telephone conference on the 6th with representatives from several European countries, the European Commission, and civil society organizations. The meeting discussed the lessons learned from recent heatwaves and preparations for the next round of heatwaves.
In a statement, Kreug said that countries that developed heat health action plans during the heatwave in June responded more quickly and provided better protection for their citizens.
However, he pointed out that among the European members of the World Health Organization, less than half of the countries have such programs.
Krug said that residents of nursing homes, homeless individuals, and elderly people who are isolated from society still do not receive sustained assistance across Europe.
Experts say that the heatwave from June 20th to 28th was the worst on record in Europe, causing power outages, damage to infrastructure, and overwhelming the healthcare system.
Scientists say that extreme heat temperatures are almost certainly driven by climate change.
According to reports, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium have recorded 3,700 cases of ‘excess deaths’. Governments in these countries warn that these figures are preliminary and may increase.
