LONDON: Around 2,700 people are estimated to have died as a result of extreme heat during May and June in England and Wales, according to researchers from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The estimate, reported by international media, highlights the growing public health risks posed by increasingly intense heatwaves, with experts warning that extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent due to changing climate conditions.
According to the researchers, approximately 550 heat-related deaths occurred between 21 and 29 May, while a further 2,200 deaths are believed to have taken place between 18 and 28 June. The June heatwave proved significantly more severe and accounted for the vast majority of the estimated fatalities.
Scientists noted that temperatures during the June heatwave reached 37.7 degrees Celsius, making it one of the hottest periods recorded in England and Wales in decades. Reports indicate that the heatwave broke a 50-year temperature record, exposing millions of people to unusually high temperatures over several consecutive days.
Professor Friederike Otto, one of the researchers involved in the study, said that most of the estimated deaths occurred during the June heatwave when temperatures reached exceptionally high levels.
She emphasized that the dangers of extreme heat should not be underestimated, even by people who consider themselves healthy.
“Even completely healthy individuals should not assume they are protected from extreme heat,” Professor Otto said, warning that heatwaves are likely to become more common and more intense in the years ahead.
The researchers explained that both the May and June heatwaves were associated with a heat dome, a meteorological phenomenon in which a strong high-pressure system traps hot air over a region for an extended period. The trapped air causes temperatures to rise significantly while preventing cooler air from entering the affected area.
Heat domes have become a growing concern among climate scientists because they can produce prolonged periods of dangerous temperatures, placing enormous pressure on healthcare systems and increasing the risk of illness and death.
Medical experts warn that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can trigger a wide range of serious health complications. High temperatures increase the risk of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems, and respiratory illnesses. Elderly people, infants, individuals with chronic diseases, and outdoor workers are generally considered the most vulnerable.
However, researchers stressed that healthy adults are also at risk, particularly during prolonged heatwaves or when engaging in physical activity without adequate hydration or cooling.
Unlike floods, storms, or other natural disasters that cause immediate and visible destruction, extreme heat is often described as a “silent killer.” Many heat-related deaths occur because high temperatures worsen existing medical conditions rather than causing direct injury, making the true impact of heatwaves difficult to detect immediately.
Public health officials continue to encourage people to remain hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, wear light clothing, seek cooler environments whenever possible, and regularly check on elderly relatives, neighbours, and other vulnerable individuals during periods of extreme heat.
Climate experts have repeatedly warned that global warming is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves across many parts of the world. Europe has experienced several record-breaking summers in recent years, with many countries reporting unprecedented temperatures, wildfires, droughts, and heat-related health emergencies.
The latest findings from England and Wales add to growing evidence that extreme heat has become a major public health challenge requiring stronger preparedness measures, improved early warning systems, and greater public awareness.
Researchers say governments and communities must continue investing in climate adaptation strategies, including heat action plans, resilient infrastructure, urban cooling initiatives, and improved healthcare preparedness to reduce the human toll of future heatwaves.
The study serves as another reminder that rising temperatures pose a significant threat not only to vulnerable populations but to society as a whole, underscoring the need for both immediate protective measures and long-term responses to the changing climate.
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