Heatwaves kill more people than other natural disasters

Heatwaves are Earth's deadliest natural disasters, silently claiming more lives than floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes combined. In the US, extreme heat causes an average of 1,220 deaths annually, surpassing all other weather events. Globally, a 2021 study estimated nearly 5 million deaths annually are linked to temperature extremes, with heat's share growing due to climate change.