France reports over 2,000 excess deaths in one week during June heatwave

France experienced a significant surge in mortality during a severe heatwave in late June, with health minister Stéphanie Rist reporting at least 2,025 excess deaths in a single week. Preliminary data indicates that the period between June 22 and June 28 saw a substantial increase in fatalities compared to normal levels.

The minister revealed on TF1 television that deaths occurring within homes saw a dramatic 91% increase when compared to the preceding week. This sharp rise points to the intense impact of the heatwave on vulnerable populations, particularly those who may have been unable to seek adequate cooling or medical attention.

Furthermore, the excess mortality was notably concentrated among individuals aged 45 and older. Rist cautioned that the current figures are based solely on electronic death certificates, which account for only about 60% of all deaths. Consequently, the actual number of excess deaths during that week is likely to be considerably higher, underscoring the severe public health crisis posed by the extreme temperatures.

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preliminary data shows that during the week of June 22-28, there were about 2,025 additional deaths compared to normal.