The science of tracing climate deaths in heatwaves; Seoul breaks century-long record; Turkish city calls for help

Paris (AFP) July 31, 2025

A heatwave scorching Europe had barely subsided in early July when scientists published estimates that 2,300 people may have died across a dozen major cities during the extreme, climate-fuelled episode. The figure was supposed to "grab some attention" and sound a timely warning in the hope of avoiding more needless deaths, said Friederike Otto, one of the scientists involved in the research.