Researchers 'Over 2,700 May Have Died Due To England Heatwaves'

At least 2,700 people could have died in England and Wales as a result of heatwaves that struck in May and June, according to a study released Monday. 

Experts from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used weather data, climate models and studies on excess mortality during heatwaves to arrive at their estimate. 

"More than 2,700 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes during the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales," a statement



said.

"Of those, it's estimated that 42% died as a result of the extra heat caused by human-induced warming," it added. The UK and most of Europe experienced two unprecedented heatwaves in May and June, with monthly records set at 35.1 Degree C and 37.7 Degree C, respectively, in England.

"They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of western Europe, and they're particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred," Mark McCarthy, science manager of the Met's climate attribution team, was quoted as saying in the study.