A deadly heatwave has swept across Europe in the last few days, with seven people dying in France from causes linked to the soaring temperatures.
Places like Manchester in England were 10C hotter than Nicosia earlier in the week, but those who have experienced a summer in Cyprus will know that the cooler weather at the moment is the calm before the storm (not a thunderstorm, but rather four months of high / extremely high temperatures).
While Cyprus is better equipped for dealing with the heat, there are still a number of people who sadly die from the high temperatures in the summer.
Heat deaths already recorded in Cyprus
According to the WHO, 45 heatstroke deaths were recorded between 2004 and 2021 in Cyprus, so that number could have risen to at least 60 by the end of this summer, while last year, researchers from the World Weather Attribution group attributed 1,500 of the deaths across Europe to climate breakdown during a 10-day period of high temperatures between 23 June and 2 July.
Even more worryingly, a study from 2024 found that deaths attributable to high temperatures in Cyprus are expected to increase during the 21st century, with the burden considerably higher under an extreme climate change scenario. In the study, the Mediterranean island is described as a climate change hotspot and a substantial increase in heat-related deaths by the end of the century is projected.
The researchers used Cyprus mortality and temperature data from 2004 to 2019 to estimate the relationship between heat and deaths, then compared projected future heat-related mortality with a 2000-2009 baseline. On that basis, they projected all-cause heat-related mortality to rise by 2.7% under a moderate climate scenario and 4.75% under an extreme scenario by the end of the century.
Cardiovascular deaths are expected to drive much of the increase, while the authors warned that emissions cuts could avoid around 75% of the projected rise and that adaptation measures such as air conditioning are nearing capacity.
However, the article also says that moving from the extreme to the moderate scenario could prevent about 75% of the projected increase in all-cause heat-related deaths by the end of the century. Essentially, a lot of this depends on how effectively the climate crisis can be combatted.
As mentioned, Cyprus has the upper hand compared to countries which are usually colder when it comes to dealing with heatwaves, as most homes have air conditioning, or at the very least, fans. But this is not always the case, as not everyone can afford it.
Elderly people face the highest risk
It is especially a problem for elderly people on low pensions. And sadly, the World Weather Attribution study found 88% of climate-driven deaths occurred among people over 65, with older populations showing highest mortality rates.
The Pensioners Observatory President Dimos Antoniou has regularly urged the Electricity Authority and the state to offer generous discounts for low pension individuals, with several elderly individuals saying they can’t afford to pay to keep themselves cool, which during heatwaves, can be the difference between life or death.
Overall, some of these figures are alarming, and as Cyprus prepares for another hot summer, it is crucial that people, especially of the older generation, are aware of the risks that come with frequent exposure to high temperatures.
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