Heat claims lives in Paris: emergency services registered 109 deaths within 24 hours, one hundred more than average

Parisian emergency services recorded a staggering 109 deaths within a 24-hour period due to the extreme heat, a stark contrast to the average of seven fatalities typically seen at this time of year. The recent heatwave has placed an immense strain on health services, with ambulance dispatchers reporting an 80% surge in emergency calls compared to periods without extreme heat.

These figures, reported by broadcaster France Info, specifically account for deaths registered by ambulance personnel in public spaces or private residences. The toll does not include individuals who succumbed to heat-related illnesses after being admitted to hospitals. On Friday, temperatures in the French capital hovered around a scorching 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit).

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109 deaths as a result of the heat in 24 hours.

The deadly heatwave has not been confined to Paris. Across France, four young children died from overheating in locked cars. Authorities report that 55 people have drowned since the heatwave began, indicating a broader crisis fueled by the extreme temperatures. Neighboring Spain has also reported high mortality rates, with the national health institute attributing 327 deaths to the heatwave between June 21 and June 26.

While Spain and France appear to have passed the peak of the current heatwave, Germany is still experiencing record-breaking temperatures. On Friday, the country recorded its highest temperature ever at 41.3 degrees Celsius, which was surpassed on Saturday with a reading of 41.5 degrees Celsius. In the Netherlands, cooler temperatures are expected in the coming hours, with a chance of severe thunderstorms in the southeast. Weather warnings are being downgraded across the country, with significantly less heat anticipated from Monday onwards.

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The number of emergency calls was 80 percent higher than when there is no heatwave.