More than 7,300 Deaths Linked to Heat Waves Recorded in France This Year

More than 7,300 deaths have been recorded in France due to extreme heat since the beginning of the year. According to the data of the Public Health Agency in France, at least 300 additional deaths occurred in the country during the heat wave that was effective between 24-28 May. An additional 5,764 deaths were recorded in the country during the second heat wave between 17-30 June. An additional 1243 deaths were recorded in the heat wave that took place in France between 3 and 22 July. It was stated that three quarters of these deaths occurred in people aged 75 and over. More than 7,300 deaths have been recorded in the country during the extreme heat that has been effective since the beginning of the year. The Public Health Institution calculates the number of 'extra deaths' in heat waves with a special method. The institution obtains the 'excess number of deaths' by subtracting the average number of deaths expected under normal conditions from the total number of deaths during the period when hot weather is effective. By calculating the number of 'excess deaths' in the country, the impact of situations such as epidemics and heat waves on public health and death cases is measured. This year, France experienced its hottest July since temperature records began in 1900. In July, average temperatures increased to 24.9 degrees. July records showed a 70 percent rainfall deficit in France, making it the third driest July on record. Experts state that temperature and drought rising to record levels increase the risk of forest fires. In France, which experienced the biggest fire season in its history, more than 117 thousand hectares of land were burned to ashes this year.