Europe's Heatwave Summer Logs 30,000 Excess Deaths

Europe saw at least 30,000 excess deaths across a blistering summer of back-to-back heatwaves and drought which scientists have blamed on man-made climate change, according to provisional figures reported by The Local Italy.

The figures, which cover the summer months, underscore the human toll of a season that has seen temperatures soar across the continent. The Local Italy reports that the deaths are linked to the extreme heat, a phenomenon that has become more frequent and more intense as the climate warms.

For Italy, the summer has been particularly harsh. The heatwaves have strained the health system, particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable, and have added to the pressure on agriculture and water resources in a country that is already one of the most climate-stressed in Europe.