Pakistan, July 3 -- A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed more than 3,700 lives in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, according to preliminary official estimates, with health authorities warning that the death toll could rise further as additional data becomes available.

The extreme weather event, which affected large parts of Europe between June 20 and June 28, is being described as one of the continent's most intense heatwaves in recent history. Climate experts say human-induced climate change significantly increased the severity of the unusually high temperatures, placing immense pressure on healthcare systems, electricity networks and public infrastructure.

France recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 2,02...