The frequency of heatwaves such as the one currently affecting Europe may rise as a result of climate change, Munich Re says.

“As a matter of principle, individual events cannot be explained by climate change,” the reinsurer said in a statement on the heatwave. “However, climate change does increase the probability of heatwaves in future.”

Head of Munich Re’s Geo Risks Research Peter Hoeppe says the reinsurer is examining possible consequences of heatwaves, including those for power stations.

Hot weather in Europe has triggered more power demand in France and other countries.

“There are insurance solutions for the financial consequences of heatwaves, but most of these are only triggered by extended heatwave periods,” Professor Hoeppe said.

“Such is the case for network-cessation insurances for power plant operators forced to reduce the output of the facility in the event of a cooling-water shortage.”

About 1 million homes in western France were left without power overnight last Tuesday after the heatwave moved in from Spain.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament in London recorded its hottest day at 35.7 degrees.

The United Nations has warned heatwaves are growing more frequent and intense due to climate change, and has called on more countries to implement warning systems informing people of the dangers.

Professor Hoeppe says the current European heatwave is unlikely to match the summer of 2003, when 70,000 people died over three months, making it the continent’s most deadly natural catastrophe.

In many regions daytime temperatures exceeded 30 degrees for many weeks, and overall economic losses were $US14 billion ($18.59 billion).