Europ Assistance reported a 16% increase in medical assistance cases abroad in July compared to the same month last year, with technical vehicle interventions also rising by 18%, and it predicts a ‘black traffic weekend’ on European roads this weekend.
Since the start of the summer holiday period (27 June to 29 July), Europ Assistance Belgium has registered over 87,000 calls for assistance, averaging 2,700 per day, with a peak on 22 July. The organisation attributes the rise in cases partly to ongoing heatwaves in Southern Europe, causing more instances of digestive issues, infections, and heat strokes, particularly affecting young children and the elderly.
Most medical cases were reported from France (19%), Spain (14%), Italy (7%), and Greece (5%). Assistance was also frequently required in distant locations like Thailand, the US, and Indonesia. Injuries and wounds accounted for 41% of medical issues, followed by infections (14%) and gastrointestinal complaints (13%).
There was also an increase in breakdowns abroad, with Europ Assistance opening 18% more technical cases, primarily in France, the Netherlands, and Spain, while the rise was limited to 3% within Belgium. The most reported issues were engine and battery problems, followed by human errors such as refuelling with the wrong fuel.
For the upcoming weekend, Europ Assistance warns of severe traffic congestion across Europe, predicting the busiest weekend of the year between Friday 1 August and Sunday 3 August. Holidaymakers are advised to carry sufficient water, monitor local traffic reports, and avoid peak travel times.
