Deaths in France spiked 29% amid record heat wave, health agency says

France experienced a dramatic surge in deaths during a record-breaking heat wave last month, with the country's public health authority reporting a nearly one-third increase in fatalities. The period of extreme heat, from June 22 to June 28, saw temperatures shatter previous records across the country.

Public Health France stated that 8,973 deaths were recorded during that week, a preliminary figure that is still incomplete. This represents a 29% increase compared to the 6,948 deaths registered the week prior, when the heat wave began. The authority initially estimated at least 1,000 additional deaths, but revised this figure upward as more data became available.

The excess mortality was observed across various settings. Deaths in private homes saw a sharp increase of 91%, while deaths in care homes rose by 37%, and in hospitals by nearly 20%. The Paris region was particularly hard-hit, with a 63% week-on-week increase in deaths.

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The mortality will as a consequence be higher than these first figures

Dr. Nicolas Gonzales, head of the emergency department at Paris-Saclay Hospital, reported a surge in patients suffering from heat exposure, including heart attacks, dehydration, and kidney malfunctions. The strain on infrastructure was evident, with funeral service directors in Paris reporting difficulties in storing the deceased, as some mortuaries were reportedly full.

Public Health France cautioned that the current figures underestimate the true death toll, indicating that mortality will likely be higher once all data is compiled. The extreme heat wave affected much of Europe, with many countries also experiencing new temperature highs.

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patients suffering from heat exposure started arriving in a surge on June 20