BERLIN, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Heat-related deaths in Germany reached an estimated 11,900 during the first seven months of 2026, already surpassing full-year totals recorded since 2016, according to a report released Thursday by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's public health institute.
The surge was largely driven by an extreme heatwave in late June, which has caused approximately 9,600 deaths.
According to RKI data, the elderly was disproportionately affected by the high temperatures. Over 6,000 heat-related deaths occurred among people aged 85 and older, while about 2,900 deaths were recorded among those aged 75 to 84.
During the heatwave in June, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in multiple areas across the country. ■