Belgium's June heatwave caused 1,747 excess deaths, a 47.8% mortality surge, with Wallonia seeing a 76% increase
A late June heatwave in Belgium caused 1,747 excess deaths, a 47.8% rise over expected mortality, with Wallonia suffering a 76% surge and the 15-64 age group also heavily affected.
Overall toll
The heatwave that struck Belgium between 18 June and 1 July caused 1,747 excess deaths, a 47.8% increase over the expected mortality for that period, according to final figures published by the public health institute Sciensano on 8 July. The total number of deaths recorded during the heatwave was 5,401. The initial provisional estimate of 1,222 excess deaths was revised upward after more complete data became available.
Regional disparities
The excess mortality was not evenly distributed. Wallonia suffered the most, with a 76% surge (919 additional deaths). Brussels recorded a 60.9% increase (159 excess deaths), while Flanders saw a 31.4% rise (682 excess deaths). Walloon health minister Yves Coppieters called the figures "worrying" and said they must be taken seriously.
Worrying figures that must be taken with all due seriousness.
- Wallonia
- 76 %
- Brussels
- 60.9 %
- Flanders
- 31.4 %
Age impact
The heatwave did not only affect the elderly. Among people aged 15 to 64, excess mortality reached 61.3%, indicating that working-age adults were also vulnerable to the extreme temperatures and high ozone levels.
Deadly weekend
The weekend of 27–28 June was particularly lethal. On Saturday 27 June, 641 deaths were recorded (146.5% above expected), and on Sunday 28 June, 632 deaths (143.1% above expected). By the end of the month, as temperatures eased, the daily death toll returned to around 260.
Government response
On the morning of 8 July, federal and regional health ministers convened an interministerial conference to examine recommendations from the risk management group (RMG) for handling future heatwaves. The Sciensano mortality figures had been requested by the RMG to inform those discussions.
