France Reports Nearly 30% Surge in Deaths During Record Heatwave

The number of deaths recorded in France surged by nearly 30% during the country's record-breaking heatwave, with health authorities reporting 2,025 additional deaths in just one week as extreme temperatures swept across much of Europe.

According to France's Public Health Agency, there was a 29.1% increase in deaths during the week of 22-28 June, compared with the previous week. The agency said 8,973 deaths had been recorded for the period, up from 6,948 in the week of 15-21 June.

Officials warned that the figures remain incomplete and that the final death toll is expected to rise further. The latest estimate more than doubles the preliminary figure of at least 1,000 excess deaths released last week, which covered only the three hottest days of the heatwave.

As reported by The Guardian, the sharp rise coincided with France's hottest days on record, when daytime and overnight temperatures shattered previous highs across the country.

Public Health France said the increase in mortality was concentrated almost entirely among people aged 45 and above, with those aged over 65 accounting for the largest share of deaths. While fatalities also rose among people aged 45 to 64, older adults remained the most vulnerable to the extreme heat.

The deadly heatwave has also exposed major weaknesses in France's healthcare system. Hospitals across the country struggled to cope with a surge in patients suffering from heatstroke, dehydration, heart attacks and kidney failure.

At Paris-Saclay Hospital, staff reportedly sourced bags of ice from a fast-food restaurant and supermarkets to cool critically ill patients after running short of supplies. Hospital director Cédric Lussiez described the crisis as "horrible", admitting, "We thought we were ready. We were not actually."

In response, the French government has announced a €100 million package to improve cooling systems in hospitals and is purchasing 30,000 air-conditioning units for health facilities.

The heatwave also claimed lives elsewhere in Europe. Belgium recorded around 1,200 excess deaths between 18 and 29 June, while the Netherlands reported about 480 excess deaths, with elderly people making up the majority of fatalities.

The World Health Organization warned that such heatwaves are becoming the "new normal" as climate change accelerates, cautioning that future European summers are likely to be even more severe.