Record heatwave in France overwhelms mortuaries, families desperately seek space for the deceased

France is grappling with a record-breaking heatwave that has pushed its mortuary services to the brink of collapse. Cooling spaces are exhausted, forcing funeral homes to transport bodies as far as 80 kilometers from Paris.

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the 32 available spaces are full and he is forced to constantly deny families who are looking for space.

Zouhair Hertelli, a mortuary owner, reported that his facility's 32 available spaces are full, and he is constantly turning away families seeking arrangements for their deceased. Official statistics reveal a stark rise in daily fatalities. Before the heatwave, daily deaths averaged between 900 and 1,000. This number surged to over 1,200 on Wednesday, the hottest day on record, and exceeded 1,400 on both Thursday and Friday.

Public health officials estimate that at least 1,000 additional deaths occurred over the weekend, primarily affecting individuals over 65, who constitute 85% of the deceased. Many of these deaths occurred at home, particularly in the Paris region, and their certificates have not yet been electronically registered.

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from 900–1,000 per day before the wave, the number skyrocketed to over 1,200 on Wednesday (the hottest day in history) and exceeded 1,400 on both Thursday and Friday.

To alleviate the space shortage, the municipality has installed two temporary storage units, each with a capacity of 20 bodies. Hospitals have also added 50 more spaces. Despite these measures, funeral homes are compelled to send bodies to Chartres, approximately 80 km from the capital, and other surrounding areas. Hertelli has applied for permission to place temporary refrigeration units outside his mortuary near Orly Airport, but approval is still pending.

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we usually serve 3–4 families in two days, while now we have been called to manage about 15 deaths in the same period, without the possibility of immediate transfer of the deceased due to lack of space.

Veronique Bertrand, a funeral home director, noted a significant increase in her workload, managing around 15 deaths in two days compared to the usual 3-4 families. She stressed the importance of remembering the lessons from the 2003 heatwave, which claimed 15,000 lives, and called for solidarity in caring for the elderly and isolated, ensuring their hydration and safety.

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we must not forget the lessons of the 2003 heatwave, which cost 15,000 lives, and call for solidarity: care for the elderly and lonely, ensure hydration and safety, reminding how quickly such a crisis can escalate into tragedy.