Liège province sees 22 deaths amid heatwave

Between 07:00 and 12:00 on Sunday, the 112 emergency line recorded 22 deaths in Belgium's Liège province, far above the usual 30‑35 deaths recorded over a full 24‑hour period. Emergency services responded to more than 70 calls since midnight, more than double their normal daily volume, with fire crews carrying out over 70 interventions. The provincial governor urged citizens to reserve 112 for life‑threatening situations, to contact their primary doctors or the 1733 medical line for non‑urgent issues, and to protect vulnerable people from the extreme heat. Additional resources were deployed, including four extra ambulances from neighboring Luxembourg province and measures to expand the capacity of the 1733 line. The surge in calls was mainly linked to the heatwave, prompting increased assistance to ambulances and door‑opening operations for elderly, isolated or fragile individuals.