20 people died as a result of excessive heat in July heatwave

20 people died from hyperthermia during July’s heatwave, Health Minister Ian Borg confirmed.

The minister provided the figures in parliament on Monday in response to a parliamentary question by MP Darren Carabott, who asked how many patients had been admitted to hospital with hyperthermia during the heatwave and how many had died.

Hyperthermia occurs when the body overheats and cannot cool itself effectively. It is often caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures, intense physical exertion, or certain medications.

Borg said 179 patients were treated at Mater Dei Hospital’s emergency department for hyperthermia, of whom 79 were subsequently admitted to hospital wards for further treatment.

Of these patients, 20 died during the July heatwave.

However, Borg clarified that all 20 patients had underlying medical conditions that may have contributed to their deaths.

In July, a red weather warning was issued by the Met Office after temperatures were forecast to hit 41°C. A week before, temperatures had climbed to 40°C.