Explained in plain English

What is 'excess deaths'?

'Excess deaths' refers to the number of deaths above what would normally be expected for a specific period. It's a way to measure the impact of events like heatwaves or pandemics. The government figures in the story, estimating 2,700 excess deaths, suggest that the heatwaves directly or indirectly contributed to more fatalities than usual.

Stories that explain this