France recorded 2,025 more deaths during the final week of June as a severe heatwave swept across Europe, according to Public Health France, with authorities warning that the figure may still be an underestimate.
Deaths in France rose by 29% between June 22 and 28 compared with the previous week, with Health Minister Stéphanie Rist saying there was a clear increase among people over 45. The Paris region was among the worst affected, recording a 62% rise in deaths.
The figures followed France’s hottest average national day on record on June 24, when temperatures reached nearly 41C in Paris and around half the country was placed under a red heat alert. French officials also reported a sharp rise in drowning deaths, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez saying 72 people had died by drowning since June 18.
The extreme heat has also hit other parts of Europe. Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths during the heatwave, 39% above normal levels, with nearly half of the victims aged 85 or older. Health officials described the figure as unprecedented.
In the Netherlands, authorities reported about 480 excess deaths during a week of unusually high temperatures, most of them among people aged 80 and above. Temperatures in parts of the country climbed close to 40C, with the highest death tolls recorded in the south and east.
More hot weather is expected in parts of Europe in the coming days. Forecasters say a high-pressure system moving from the Azores towards Portugal and Spain will push temperatures higher across France and southern Britain.
Southern France is also facing an increased wildfire risk. Météo-France issued red alerts for parts of the country, warning that conditions were highly favourable for fires. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said nearly 7,000 fires had broken out since the start of the summer season, burning about 8,700 hectares.
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, with Europe warming faster than the global average.
