Researchers estimate 2,700 heat-related deaths after record UK heatwaves

Researchers said the June heatwave saw temperatures climb to 37.7 degrees Celsius, breaking a nearly 50-year record.

LONDON: Severe heatwaves during May and June may have contributed to the deaths of approximately 2,700 people in England and Wales, according to a new analysis by researchers.

The study, conducted by experts from Imperial College London, Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, estimated that around 550 deaths occurred during the May 21–29 heatwave, while an additional 2,200 deaths were linked to the June 18–28 heatwave.

Researchers said the June heatwave saw temperatures climb to 37.7 degrees Celsius, breaking a nearly 50-year record in parts of the country.

Professor Friederike Otto said most of the estimated deaths occurred during the June heatwave, warning that even healthy individuals should not assume they are immune to the dangers of extreme heat. She added that climate change is expected to make such heatwaves more frequent in the future.

According to the researchers, both heatwaves were driven by a heat dome weather pattern. They warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can trigger heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening medical conditions, describing heat as a “silent killer” capable of affecting even otherwise healthy people.