Germany's weekly deaths rise 32% during late-June heatwave

BERLIN, Germany — Deaths in Germany rose 32% in the week of June 22-28, reaching roughly 23,900, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office. The figure represents about 7,100 more deaths than the previous week and coincides with an extreme heatwave that swept the country. Across June as a whole, the death toll was 9% higher than the average for the same period over the previous four years, the office said. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's federal public health agency, estimated that around 5,100 deaths could be attributed to the heatwave from mid-June onward, with 4,310 of those occurring during the hottest week. The institute said the elderly and people with chronic illnesses were the most affected by the high temperatures. No further details on the heatwave's impact were immediately available.