Extreme climate claims 195,000 lives in Europe

Denmark: Europe has been struck by the grim consequences of extreme weather events since 1980, with a shocking death toll of nearly 195,000 individuals.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the economic losses exceeded €560 billion.

Floods, storms, heat waves, cold waves, forest fires, and landslides have ravaged the continent, inflicting unprecedented loss of life.

Heatwaves were identified as the leading contributor to fatalities, responsible for 81% of deaths and contributing to 15% of financial losses.

Remarkably, only 30% of the total losses, approximately €170 billion ($184 billion), were covered by insurance.

To address this alarming situation, the EEA launched an online portal that consolidates recent data on the impact of extreme weather.

EEA’S expert, Aleksandra Kazmierczak, stressed the critical need for proactive measures to mitigate further losses

The agency emphasized the importance of comprehensive measures to address all aspects of heat-related risks.