Heat-induced deaths set to triple in Italy by 2100

Rome: 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.