Belgium recorded nearly 3,000 excess deaths during three summer heatwaves, according to data released Thursday by the national public health institute, Sciensano.
Sciensano's Belgian Mortality Monitoring (Be-MOMO) system, which tracks all-cause mortality against statistical expectations, showed the first heatwave from June 18 to July 3 was the most severe. It caused 2,035 deaths (a 48.8 percent increase), disproportionately affecting those aged 15 to 64 and marking Belgium's highest excess mortality in absolute numbers and percentages since 2000.
The second heatwave (July 4–17) saw 535 excess deaths (14.8 percent increase), and the third (July 28 to Aug. 16) recorded 365 deaths (7 percent spike).
Sciensano attributed the severity to duration, heat intensity and ozone concentrations.
Temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Celsius for 10 consecutive days from June 18, including three days near 35, while ozone levels remained above 100 micrograms per cubic meter for 10 consecutive days.
The figures may be revised as mortality data is further consolidated.