2,000 TO DIE IN HEATWAVE
Health alert for sizzling UK
BRITAIN faces a deadly heatwave with 2,000 people set to be killed by soaring temperatures this summer.
Experts warned of a wave of hot weather deaths ahead, and revealed hundreds died during last month’s hot spell.
There were 510 more fatalities than average in England and Wales in the week ending June 23, when temperatures topped 30C (86F).
That works out at an extra death every 20 minutes.
A total of 9,627 people died, up from the average of 9,117 deaths in the week, Office of National Statistics figures showed.
Hundreds more deaths are expected to have been caused by last week’s 32C (89F) weather.
And continued warm weather, which the Met Office says “may become more prevalent across much of the UK through the second half of July” has sparked fears of further fatalities.
Doctors say babies, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
Malcolm Booth from the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners said: “The June hot spell’s number of excess deaths is very disturbing. Hot spells ahead threaten a similar number of deaths.
“Hot weather can be as deadly as cold weather for the elderly, vulnerable adults and children. Take care of your neighbours.”
Public Health England’s Heatwave Plan for England explains: “Excessive exposure to high temperatures can kill. Excess seasonal deaths start to occur at 25C.”
The agency’s head of extreme events Dr Angie Bone said: “The rise in mortality as a result of very warm weather follows very sharply.
“Excess deaths are not just deaths of those who would have died anyway in the next few weeks or months due to illness or old age. There is strong evidence that these summer deaths are indeed extra and the result of heat-related conditions.”
Some 2,139 Brits died due to August 2003’s record 38.5C (101F) heatwave, Department of Health records showed.
Last month saw the hottest June day in 41 years, when Heathrow sizzled in 33.9C (93F) heat.
Britain was set to be hotter than the Algarve this weekend. Southern parts of the UK saw temperatures hit 24C (75F) yesterday, while today will see highs of 25C (77F).