At least 911 more people died than usual during code red heatwave: RIVM
Between June 22 and July 5, during an extreme heatwave that triggered the Netherlands’ first-ever code red weather alarm for heat, 911 more people died than normal, the RIVM reported on Wednesday. The exact causes of death are unknown, but the public health institute considers it “very likely” that the wheat played a role.
According to the RIVM, mortality rates increased in all regions of the Netherlands during the heatwave. The highest excess mortality occurred in the south and the east, where it is the hottest.
The number of deaths was elevated for all age groups, but most of the excess deaths occurred in the age group 80 and older.
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to heat. Their organs function less effectively, they sweat less, and they are less likely to notice that they are thirsty and dehydrating. Chronically ill people also face increased risk because heat can exacerbate their symptoms.
There was also a lot of smog during the heatwave. According to the RIVM, the combination of poor air quality and high heat puts extra strain on vulnerable people’s health.
The RIVM thinks it has now recorded almost all deaths during the two weeks of high temperatures in the Netherlands. In the week of June 22 to 28, during the hottest part of the heatwave, there was an excess mortality of 586 people - well over a hundred more deaths than the RIVM’s first estimate.
In the week after the worst heat, from June 29 to July 5, excess mortality was 325. According to the RIVM, it is that people can die from the consequences of a heatwave after it has passed. This is called the lag effect.
The number of heat-related deaths in the Netherlands is expected to increase. Climate change means more, longer, and more intense heatwaves. And the aging population means that more and more people will be vulnerable to the heat. A recent RIVM study for the municipality of Amsterdam concluded that the number of heat-related deaths would about double by 2050.
