France has recorded at least 1,000 excess deaths during a recent heatwave, with the highest toll observed in regions under red alert, including Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire. The national public health authority, Santé Publique France, reported that between June 24th and June 26th, deaths surged compared to the average recorded in April and May. 85% of the deaths involved individuals aged 65 or older, with significant increases in hospitals and nursing homes. Deaths at home rose by 40%, highlighting the lack of air conditioning in only 24% of French households.
The true impact of the heatwave is likely higher, as the electronic death certificate system captures only 60% of deaths initially, with underreporting in regions and homes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported more than 1,300 excess deaths across Europe since June 21, with France bearing the worst toll. Mortuaries in Paris, such as the Paris-Orly International Funeral Home, have reached full capacity, forcing funeral directors to turn away grieving families.
In addition to heat-related deaths, dozens of drownings have been reported, primarily involving young people seeking relief from the extreme temperatures. The heatwave has also spread eastward, affecting the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, where all-time temperature records were broken. The WHO warned that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at twice the global average, with 150 million people currently under extreme heat conditions.
Public Health France noted that the initial death toll is likely an undercount, as data collection remains incomplete. The agency emphasized that the observed trends should be interpreted with caution due to gaps in reporting, particularly for deaths at home. The heatwave has also strained healthcare systems, with hospitals and nursing homes experiencing a surge in fatalities.
As the heatwave continues to shift across Europe, authorities are urging residents to take precautions, particularly for vulnerable populations. The WHO highlighted that European homes, workplaces, and schools were not built to withstand such extreme temperatures, exacerbating the health risks. The full statistical and public health work of tallying heat-related deaths could take weeks or months, but the immediate toll is already evident in overwhelmed mortuaries and rising death rates.