France recorded 5,764 more deaths than expected during a record-breaking heatwave that swept the country between June 17 and July 2, health authorities said on Wednesday, highlighting the deadly impact of increasingly frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change.According to France’s public health agency, 21,674 people died from all causes during the period, compared with an expected 15,910 deaths based on historical trends.The resulting excess mortality of 36 per cent marks the country’s highest heatwave-related death toll since the catastrophic summer of 2003, when around 15,000 people died, as per news agency AP.The latest estimate is significantly higher than the initial figure of about 2,025 excess deaths announced by French health minister Stephanie Rist for late June.
Paris worst-hit as temperatures shattered records
France experienced its hottest-ever days on June 24 and June 25, with the national average temperature reaching 30 degrees Celsius, while many regions saw daytime highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.The country also recorded its hottest June since records began in 1947.The public health agency said more than half of the excess deaths occurred between June 25 and June 27, when temperatures peaked.The Paris region suffered the highest toll, recording 1,999 excess deaths—around 80 per cent more than would normally be expected during the period.Funeral service providers in the capital reportedly struggled to find space to store bodies before burial or cremation, with some mortuaries reaching capacity.The agency described the episode as “unprecedented”, noting that its early onset, intensity and duration exposed nearly the entire population to extreme heat while schools and workplaces were still operating.
Elderly most affected, hospitals overwhelmed
People aged 75 years and above accounted for around two-thirds of the excess deaths.Nearly half of all those who died during the period passed away in hospitals, which faced a surge in patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.About one-third died at home, while most of the remaining deaths occurred in care homes for older people.Authorities stressed that the figures cover all-cause mortality rather than only deaths officially attributed to heat. Experts say many heat-related fatalities are never formally recorded as such because extreme heat often worsens existing conditions such as heart disease, with death certificates listing the immediate medical cause instead.The health agency said the latest toll remains preliminary and will be updated later this year when more complete mortality data becomes available.Scientists have increasingly linked Europe’s recurring and more intense heatwaves to human-induced climate change.France has recorded 53 nationwide heatwaves since 1947, with half of them occurring since 2010, underlining the growing frequency of extreme heat events.
