In Belgium, more than 2,000 additional deaths occurred during the heatwave compared to normal levels, according to Sciensano. With an excess mortality of 48 per cent, our country was more severely affected than, for example, France (+23 per cent) and the Netherlands (+13 per cent), where the temperatures were similarly high.<\/p>\n
People in poorer regions were more heavily impacted by the heat. “There is, for example, a significant difference between Flanders and Wallonia. And there is an undeniable socio-economic aspect to this,” says biostatistician Geert Molenberghs (universities Leuven\/Hasselt) in the newspaper. “In a large, detached house with some greenery around it, it is less hot than in a small apartment with too many people.”<\/p>\n
But even when considering Flanders separately, the region was still more affected (+31 per cent) than France and the Netherlands. “We need to look at our way of haphazardly building,” says Molenberghs.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the statistics themselves play a role. “If you only look at northern France, they are affected just as severely as we are,” says Molenberghs. In the south and especially the south-east of France, there were hardly any more deaths than usual. These regions are better adapted to high temperatures.<\/p>\n