Over 28,000 heat-induced deaths are
expected to be recorded in Italy in 2100, three times the number
of current annual fatalities, according to an estimate made by
the European Commission's Joint Research Centre published on
Thursday.
The study stressed that, in Europe, the impact of extreme heat
and cold weather could soon cause 460,000 victims a year, with a
significant disparity between low and high-income regions.
Extreme heat and cold currently cause approximately 407,000
deaths a year, the majority - some 363,500 people in eastern
regions - who die from the cold while some 43,700 fatalities are
due to extreme heat, although the situation is quickly changing
with a small decrease of victims from the cold and a rapid
increase of heat-related deaths.
The most affected areas will include Italy, where the study
estimated that today's annual 10,400 heat-related deaths could
rise to over 28,200 fatalities a year in 2100.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
