A severe and unprecedented heatwave has caused the deaths of more than 480 people in the within a single week, according to Dutch health authorities.
The excess deaths were recorded between June 22 and June 28, far above the country’s normal mortality rate, with the majority of victims aged 80 and above. Most fatalities were reported in the southern and eastern regions of the country, where temperatures were at their highest.
Authorities said the heatwave pushed temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius, making June one of the hottest months ever recorded in the Netherlands.
The deadly weather conditions are part of a broader heatwave affecting much of . In , officials have already reported more than 1,000 excess deaths linked to extreme heat, with fears that the actual toll could be even higher.
Scientists say the heatwave, which began on June 20, is among the most intense ever recorded in European history, raising fresh concerns over the growing impact of climate change and extreme weather across the continent.
