Germany records about 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer, officials say

BERLIN — Germany recorded roughly 14,000 deaths linked to extreme heat this summer, the highest heat-related toll in the country's history, authorities said. The fatalities occurred mainly during heat waves in June and July that affected much of Europe and broke temperature records in several countries. Health authorities said the majority of the deaths were among people over 65 and those with chronic conditions, who were the groups most affected by the prolonged high temperatures. The government announced plans to strengthen early warning systems and open cooling centers in cities in preparation for future heat waves. Experts warned that without reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, similar extreme heat events would become more frequent.