ISTANBUL: Belgium recorded approximately 2,000 excess deaths during the heat wave that swept across the country in late June and early July, marking the highest heat-related mortality since records began in 2000, according to updated data released by the public health institute Sciensano.
The revised figures, reported by Belga News Agency on Friday, show an excess mortality rate of 48%, higher than the institute’s earlier estimate of 1,747 additional deaths released last week.
Sciensano said the increase reflects delayed death registrations as well as an extended monitoring period after mortality rates remained elevated even after the heat wave subsided. The updated analysis covers the period from June 18 to July 3.
Among Belgium’s regions, Wallonia experienced the highest number of excess deaths, followed by Brussels and Flanders, highlighting the widespread impact of the extreme temperatures.
The institute noted that the latest figures surpass the previous record set during the August 2020 heat wave, when Belgium registered 1,557 excess deaths, representing an excess mortality rate of 37.5%.
The findings underscore the growing public health risks posed by increasingly frequent and intense heat waves linked to climate change, with health experts continuing to stress the need for protective measures for vulnerable populations during periods of extreme heat.
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