JAKARTA - The heat wave in Europe has claimed a large number of victims. Since June 21, more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded related to the high temperatures that hit the continent.
Anadolu Agency, quoted on Sunday, June 28, reported that the figure was conveyed by the Director-General of the World Health Organization or WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, through the X account on Sunday.
Tedros said Europe is now the continent with the fastest warming in the world. The temperature is rising twice as fast as the global average. Currently, around 150 million people in Europe live under extreme hot weather.
The impact is already felt. Hundreds of people have died. Schools are closed. The power grid is starting to be overwhelmed as energy demand surges as residents try to cool their homes and workplaces.
Many houses, schools, and offices in Europe were not built to withstand temperatures as high as now. Therefore, extreme heat is a serious threat to daily life.
Tedros called heat stress a silent killer. This term refers to a condition when the body has difficulty controlling temperature due to excessive exposure to heat.
He warned that climate change was making heat waves that used to be rare now come more often.
"Driven by climate change and global warming, heat waves that used to be called once in a generation now happen almost every year. We have been warned," Tedros said, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.
According to Tedros, WHO is working with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness for extreme heat. The focus includes prevention and health system response.
Extreme heat is now not just a matter of weather. In Europe, it has already disrupted schools, electricity, homes, workplaces, and the safety of residents.
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