Belgium deaths spiked by 39% in June heatwave

Belgium recorded 39% more deaths than normal between 18 and 29 June as a sweltering heatwave gripped much of Europe, health authorities said Friday.

The country saw 1,222 excess deaths during the period, of which nearly half were of people aged 85 or over, according to provisional data from the federal health ministry.

"Such a level of excess mortality during a heatwave is unprecedented in our country," it said in a statement, noting that Belgium had recorded "seven tropical days of temperatures exceeding 30C" as well as "abnormally" warm nights.

The peak in excess mortality was reached on Saturday (27 June).

The previous day, most of the country had been placed under orange or red heat alerts, prompting authorities to cancel a slew of events including a re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo.

While Belgium did not officially break its temperature records for June, readings hit 35C in Brussels for several consecutive days, and climbed locally to between 38C and 40C.