The figures came after what scientists have described as Europe’s most severe heat wave on record, which stretched from roughly June 20 to June 28 and strained hospitals, disrupted infrastructure and affected power generation across the continent.
The country’s health ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the country recorded an unprecedented spike in mortality during the period, including more than 530 deaths among people aged over 85 and around 180 among those under 65. “Such excess mortality during a heat wave is unprecedented in our country,” the ministry added.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke defended the government’s response, arguing that hospitals and care homes had been prepared and that protecting vulnerable people “is a problem of society.” But he acknowledged failings elsewhere, saying that Belgium’s emergency number 112 “did not function properly” during the heat wave and that he had asked Interior Minister Bernard Quintin to take “stronger measures.”
Vandenbroucke has ordered an evaluation of the response and asked Belgium’s Risk Management Group to deliver recommendations next week ahead of a meeting of health ministers aimed at strengthening the country’s preparations before the next heat wave arrives.