During the heat wave.. Belgium records the highest death rate in Europe

Belgium recorded the highest rate of excess deaths in Europe during the heat wave that struck the continent at the end of last June, according to data from the European network Euromomo, which monitors and compares death rates in more than 20 European countries.

According to figures from the Belgian Sensano Institute, Belgium witnessed more than 2,000 additional deaths compared to normal rates during the heat wave period, while the excess death rate reached 48%, exceeding France’s 23%, and the Netherlands’ 13%, despite recording similar high temperatures.

Geert Muhlenbergs, a biostatistician from the Universities of Leuven and Hasselt, said that the Flanders region alone recorded an excess mortality rate of 31%, which is higher than France and the Netherlands, considering that urban planning and construction patterns in Belgium contributed to exacerbating the effects of heat waves.