More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the record-breaking heatwave that swept through the continent in late June, according to a new report released by EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report indicated that at least 9,000 of the deceased were aged 65 years and above, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of older people to prolonged periods of extreme heat.

The analysis covered mortality data from 27 European countries between June 22 and June 28, a period during which exceptionally high temperatures affected several nations, including France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

According to Reuters, the figures represent excess deaths from all causes, meaning they are not limited to fatalities officially attributed to heat-related illnesses. However, medical experts note that extreme temperatures can directly trigger heat stroke while also worsening underlying cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, particularly among elderly individuals and those with existing health problems.

Researchers expressed concern over the estimated 10,650 excess deaths recorded within just six days, noting that no significant COVID-19 outbreak occurred during the period that could otherwise explain such an unusually high increase in mortality.

Commenting on the findings, Lasse Vestergaard, Chief Physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, said the scale of the excess mortality was highly unusual for that time of year.

According to him, the sharp rise in deaths is difficult to explain by any factor other than the severe heatwave that affected large parts of Europe.

The report also revealed that before the onset of the extreme weather, overall mortality across the 27 participating countries had remained below expected levels for approximately eight consecutive weeks, averaging around 500 fewer deaths per week than normal.

EuroMOMO further identified France and Belgium as the countries that recorded "very high excess mortality" during the final week of June, underscoring the significant human impact of the intense heat.

The findings have renewed concerns among scientists and public health experts about the growing health risks associated with increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, which many researchers believe are becoming more common as global temperatures continue to rise.