France records about 1,000 excess deaths during record-breaking heatwave
France's public health agency reported roughly 1,000 additional deaths over three days of an unprecedented heatwave, with most victims aged 65 or older.
France experienced an estimated 1,000 excess deaths during the peak of a record-breaking heatwave, the national public health agency said on Sunday. The agency noted that daily deaths rose from a pre-heatwave average of 900-1,000 to more than 1,200 on the hottest day and over 1,400 on each of the following two days. The increase was most pronounced in regions under red heat-extreme warnings, which covered about three-quarters of the country, and 85% of the excess deaths involved people aged 65 and older.
The agency cautioned that the figure could rise as additional data, including deaths occurring at home, are incorporated. The surge coincided with similar temperature records across Europe, including nighttime and daytime highs in Germany, and prompted widespread emergency responses such as increased ambulance dispatches and firefighting operations.
A study by the World Weather Attribution collaboration concluded that the extreme heat and humidity would have been virtually impossible without climate change, estimating the event to be 200 times more likely today than two decades ago.
Across the continent, the heatwave triggered wildfires in Germany and Greece, disrupted transport infrastructure in Germany, and led to a high number of lightning strikes in Denmark.