LONDON, October 7 England and Wales this year recorded about 3,000 more deaths than average from June 1 to August 31 due to rising temperatures, according to a report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK’s Health Security Agency. The UK (UKHSA) released on Friday. .
In five heat waves between June and August, a total of 56,303 deaths occurred in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland keeping the count aside), 3,271 (6.2%) above the average for the past five years.
Most of these additional deaths were of people over 65, which is 2,803 above average, the highest number since a heat wave plan was introduced in England in 2004.
The deadliest heat wave was the second of the summer, from July 10 to 25, which produced an excess mortality rate of 2,227 deaths, 10.4% above average.
“These estimates clearly show that higher temperatures can lead to early deaths for those most vulnerable,” said Spain’s Isabel Oliver, chief scientist at UKHSA.
He added that global warming means we must adapt “to live safely with the hottest summers in the future.”
Each heat wave was followed by a lower than average number of deaths, which in the opinion of Sarah Cole, Head of Mortality Analysis at the Office for National Statistics, indicates a putative “displacement” of deaths, that is, vulnerable individuals die early. in these periods.
There was a significant difference in excess deaths among women (2159) compared to men (1115), reversing the trend seen between 2016 and 2021.
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