The heatwave could be linked to the European Union's unexpected increase in excess mortality this July, which, in comparison to the pandemic-peak years of 2020 and 2021, is much higher, the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) said in a statement on Friday. 
 
"Excess mortality in the EU climbed to +16% in July 2022 from +7% in both June and May. This was the highest value on record so far in 2022, amounting to around 53 000 additional deaths in July this year compared with the monthly averages for 2016-2019," Eurostat said. 

As the excess mortality rate increased in July 2020 by 3% and in July 2021 by 6%, the value is "unusually high" for July, according to the statistical office.

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"Based on the available information, some of the mortality increase in July 2022 compared to the same month of the past two years may be due to the heatwaves that have affected parts of Europe during the reference period," the statement added. 
 
Extremely high temperatures were witnessed this summer in Europe. Drought has also impacted some countries, while massive wildfires engulfed thousands of acres of land in other countries,  resulting in the displacements of tens of thousands of Europeans.