France records over 5,700 excess deaths in June heatwave

France experienced an "unprecedented" excess mortality of 5,764 deaths among people aged 15 and older during a record-breaking heatwave in June. Health authorities reported the figures on Wednesday, noting that this was the highest excess mortality rate during a heatwave since 2003, when approximately 15,000 people died.

This June's extreme temperatures were part of three heatwaves that have affected France since May. Scientists attribute these increasingly frequent extreme weather events to human-caused climate change. The soaring temperatures have significantly impacted the country, where many homes, schools, and hospitals lack air conditioning and are ill-equipped for such heat. The heat has also contributed to dried riverbeds and sparked wildfires, including one that damaged a significant portion of the UNESCO-listed forest of Fontainebleau.

The excess deaths, attributed to "all causes" rather than directly to heat at this stage, occurred between June 17 and July 2. Sante Public France indicated that final figures would be released in the autumn. In comparison, the country reported 5,722 excess fatalities linked to high temperatures between June and mid-September of the previous year. Roughly two-thirds of the excess deaths last month were among individuals aged 75 or older, with less than a fifth in the 45 to 64 age group. A striking half of these deaths occurred within just three days, from June 25 to 27.

The Paris region saw an 80 percent increase in deaths. Official figures also noted that four young children died across France after becoming trapped in hot cars during the last week of June, though this did not appear to affect the official death rates for their age category. An unusually early heatwave in May also resulted in at least 300 more deaths than usual. National met office Meteo-France reported that half of the 53 heatwaves recorded nationwide since 1947 have occurred since 2010, underscoring the changing climate patterns.

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