The number of deaths in France increased by 29.1 percent during the week of June 22–28 as the country experienced an intense heatwave, according to France’s Public Health Agency.
Authorities said this represents 2,025 additional deaths compared to the previous week.
The sharpest increase in mortality was recorded in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, where deaths rose by 62.8 percent. A similar increase was also reported in the western Pays de la Loire region.
Temperatures exceeded 40°C in many parts of France last week, placing significant pressure on emergency services and hospitals, Euronews reported, as cited by Sinjali.
Although authorities have described the recent heatwave as more intense than the one in 2003—which claimed around 15,000 lives—they believe its overall impact on public health will be more limited.
Nicolas Revel, Director General of Paris’ public hospital system, said the final death toll from the June heatwave is expected to be lower than that of 2003 but “possibly” higher than last year’s heatwave, which resulted in approximately 5,700 deaths.
Meanwhile, the opposition has criticized the government’s response to the extreme temperatures. On Thursday, the Green Party submitted a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government, accusing it of failing to adequately prepare the country for increasingly severe heatwaves.
