Paris deaths surge 62% amid severe heatwave

Paris recorded a staggering 62% increase in deaths during the last week of June as an exceptional heatwave gripped France. Nationwide, the country saw a 30% rise in fatalities, totaling 2,025 additional deaths compared to the previous week, according to France's public health agency.

The agency's report, based on electronic death certificates which represent just over half of all deaths, indicated that the reported figures are likely an undercount. The 30% national increase reflects the severe health impact of the nearly ten-day heatwave, which included three days of record-breaking temperatures.

The Île-de-France region, encompassing Paris, experienced a particularly sharp rise in mortality, exceeding 62%. The Pays de la Loire region in western France also saw a similar increase. Health authorities had previously estimated about a thousand excess deaths, but that figure only covered a weekend.

"What is extremely important is that within these 2,025 deaths, there is a 91% increase in deaths at home compared to the previous week," stated Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. The intense heat created unbearable living conditions in many homes. The situation prompted a rush on fans and air conditioners in stores. This surge in heat-related deaths brings back memories of the deadly 2003 heatwave, which claimed 15,000 lives in France.

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What is extremely important is that within these 2,025 deaths, there is a 91% increase in deaths at home compared to the previous week.