СЗО је забележила пораст од 30% смртних случајева због екстремне врућине у Европи од 2000.

Photo by Unsplash August 2, MINSK . The WHO noted a 30% increase in mortality in 53 European countries since 2000 due to extreme temperatures. This is stated in a statement released by the DIRECTOR of the European Bureau of the World HEALTH Organization (WHO), Hans Kluge, reports TASS .

The document says that in the 53 countries of the region, more than 175 thousand people died annually due to heat from 2000 to 2019. In the world, this figure was about 489 thousand people, Europe’s share was 36%. Heat-related deaths among people over 65 increased by about 85% from 2000-2004 to 2018-2022.

Air temperatures in the region are rising approximately twice as fast as the global average. The three warmest years on record have been recorded since 2020, and the 10 warmest years since 2007.

Kluge recalled "that extremely high temperatures aggravate chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases, mental health and diabetes-related diseases." The WHO official recommends that people at risk keep their homes cool, stay in the shade when going outside, avoid physical activity during the hottest part of the day, and maintain fluid balance in the body by refraining from drinking sweet, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said billions of people were facing an "epidemic" of extreme heat and increasingly deadly heat waves with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. Extreme temperatures destroy economies, increase inequality among people and lead to death, he said. He believes that the Earth "is becoming an increasingly hot and dangerous place to live."