Heatwaves Killed More Than 2,700 People in England and Wales in Two Months — Study

More than 2,700 people are estimated to have died in England and Wales following two intense heatwaves that swept across the United Kingdom in May and June, according to a new study by leading climate and public health researchers.

The study, released on Monday, was conducted by experts from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who combined weather observations, climate modelling and established research on heat-related mortality to estimate the human toll of the extreme temperatures.

According to the researchers, approximately 550 people died during the first heatwave between May 21 and May 29, while nearly 2,200 people lost their lives during a second, more severe heatwave between June 18 and June 28.

The UK, along with much of western Europe, experienced unusually early and intense heatwaves during the two-month period. England recorded monthly temperature highs of 35.1°C in May and 37.7°C in June, both setting new records for those months.

Commenting on the findings, Mark McCarthy, Science Manager of the Met Office's Climate Attribution Team, said the heatwaves were exceptional both in intensity and timing.

"They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of western Europe, and they're particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred," he said.

The researchers concluded that climate change played a significant role in amplifying the severity of the extreme weather. Their analysis suggests that maximum daytime temperatures during the heatwaves were between 3°C and 4°C higher than they would have been without human-induced global warming.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is expected to publish its official assessment of heat-related deaths from the recent heatwaves in the coming weeks using registered mortality data.

Lea Berrang Ford, Head of the UKHSA's Centre for Climate and Health Security, said the findings highlight the increasing health risks posed by rising global temperatures.

She noted that the modelling provides a clearer picture of the scale of the threat associated with extreme heat and underscores the growing impact of climate change on public health and wellbeing.

The findings add to mounting concerns about the UK's preparedness for more frequent and severe heatwaves.

Last year, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the independent body that advises the British government on climate policy, warned that the country was "not ready" to cope with the impacts of climate change.

In a report published in May, the Committee projected that 92 per cent of British homes could become dangerously hot by 2050 if adaptation measures are not strengthened. It recommended introducing maximum workplace temperature limits and increasing investment in cooling systems for public buildings, including hospitals and schools.

The latest study reinforces scientific warnings that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events, posing a growing threat to public health across the UK and Europe.

AFP