Stats: 12 People Have Died in Slovakia Due to Extreme Heat Since Start of Year

Bratislava, 22 September (TASR) - Twelve people in Slovakia have died as a result of extreme heat since the beginning of this year, which is almost ten times the average number of such deaths posted between 2016-2025, the Statistics Office reported on Tuesday. Although the number of direct heat-related deaths reached a ten-year high, an increase in overall mortality wasn't confirmed in Slovakia during this summer. "However, high temperatures can also contribute to death indirectly, for example, by exacerbating chronic or other illnesses, which may not be reflected in statistics on direct causes of death," noted the office. Preliminary data published by the Statistics Office show that 12,510 people died in Slovakia between June and August, which is 2.2 percent less than the average for the same period over the previous ten years. The number of deaths during the three summer months of this year was 1 percent lower than the ten-year average for the same period prior to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Statistics Office, the number of deaths was at the same level as the five-year pre-pandemic average, particularly 12,560 people. Thus, preliminary data indicate that overall mortality during the summer months of 2026 didn't show an increase that could be classified as heat-related excess mortality, noted the office. "Nevertheless, the Statistics Office recorded an increase in the number of deaths where excessive heat was cited as the direct cause in 2026. By the end of August 2026, 12 such deaths had been recorded, the highest figure seen in the past decade. In previous years, the number of deaths directly attributable to heat ranged from zero to three cases annually," reported the office. The World Health Organization (WHO) and expert studies have pointed out that most people during heatwaves don't die from direct heatstroke or the immediate effects of heat. Extreme heat acts as a trigger that acutely exacerbates already existing chronic conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor overall mortality, or excess mortality. The reason is that excessive heat places significant strain on the body and can worsen health risks associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases and diabetes, as well as lead to acute kidney injury, explained the Statistics Office. ko/mcs