France records over 5,700 excess deaths in June heatwave

France registered an unprecedented 5,764 excess deaths among individuals aged 15 and older during a severe heatwave last month, health authorities reported Wednesday. This figure 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 nation has been battered by three heatwaves since May, contributing to increasingly frequent extreme weather events that scientists attribute to human-induced climate change. The soaring temperatures created widespread disruption in France, where many homes, schools, and hospitals are not equipped with air conditioning, leaving them ill-suited to cope with extreme heat.

Beyond the human toll, the intense heat has also led to severe environmental consequences, including dried-up riverbeds and a significant wildfire that recently consumed a tenth of the historic Fontainebleau forest. Health authorities noted that the excess deaths, occurring between June 17 and July 2, were attributed to "all causes" and are not yet definitively linked to heat exposure, with final figures expected in the autumn.

Last month also saw France record its hottest June since records began in 1947, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The average temperatures on June 24 and 25 were the highest ever recorded in France across all months. In the Paris region alone, deaths rose by 80 percent. The figures also revealed that approximately two-thirds of the excess deaths were among individuals aged 75 or older, while less than a fifth were between 45 and 64 years old. Tragically, four young children died after being trapped in hot cars during the heatwave, though this did not significantly impact the official death rates for their age category.