France records over 5,700 excess deaths in June heatwave

France registered 5,764 more deaths than usual during a record-breaking heatwave last month, a figure health authorities described as "unprecedented" for people aged 15 and older. This marks the highest excess mortality rate during a heatwave in the country since the devastating episode in 2003, which claimed approximately 15,000 lives.

The recent heatwave, which swept across France from June 17 to July 2, is part of increasingly frequent extreme weather events that scientists attribute to human-caused climate change. The soaring temperatures caused significant disruption in a nation where many homes, schools, and hospitals lack air conditioning and are not designed for extreme heat. The heat also contributed to dried riverbeds and sparked wildfires, including one that damaged a significant portion of the UNESCO-listed Forest of Fontainebleau.

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unprecedented

While the final figures linking deaths directly to the heat will be published in the autumn, Sante Public France noted that the excess deaths were from "all causes." The majority of these excess fatalities, around two-thirds, were among individuals aged 75 or older. Less than a fifth were between 45 and 64 years old. Notably, half of the excess deaths occurred within a concentrated three-day period from June 25 to 27.

The Paris region saw a stark increase, with deaths rising by 80 percent. This surge followed a report that deaths in the capital had doubled during the week of June 22 to 28. During that same week, four young children died across France after being found trapped in hot vehicles, though these specific incidents did not appear to significantly impact the official death rates for their age category. An earlier heatwave in May also saw at least 300 more deaths than usual.

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all causes