The June heatwave claimed more than 12,000 lives in Europe. In seven Western European countries, from June 22 to June 28, when the heat reached its peak, approximately 10,000 more people died than the average for this period in previous years, according to AFP data from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland. An additional 2,200 excess deaths were recorded in England and Wales from June 18 to June 28, the UK Met Office reported. Eastern European countries were not covered by the AFP analysis. Hans Kluge, the director of the WHO European Regional Office, noted that there are means to prevent most of these deaths, and the necessary recommendations have been published; however, "too many governments still view heat as a weather phenomenon rather than a public health emergency." "Further actions by governments are their choice, and this summer shows what is at stake," the doctor emphasized. Earlier, an estimate of more than 10,000 heat-related deaths in Europe was provided by the European mortality monitoring program EuroMOMO, summarizing national statistics from 27 European countries. According to this information, the overwhelming majority of heat-related deaths during the specified period were recorded among people aged 65 and older. Abnormally high temperatures can cause not only heat strokes but also exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, to which older people are more vulnerable.