Germany's 5,000 heat deaths: What the numbers reveal
More than 5,100 people in Germany died from heat-related causes by the end of June, according to the Robert Koch Institute. Researchers explain how they establish that a death was caused by soaring temperatures.
Germany's Robert Koch Institute said heat-related deaths across the country topped 5,100 in the first half of the year. The figure marks a notable increase compared with the same period in previous years.
Researchers say attributing a death directly to heat requires a complex statistical process. Experts calculate excess deaths by comparing the actual death toll during a period against the "expected" baseline that would occur without a heatwave.
Experts stress that elderly people and those with chronic conditions face the highest risk. The institute warned that rising temperatures could drive similarly elevated death tolls in coming years.
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