French health authorities have reported around 1,000 more deaths than expected during a record-breaking heatwave that has gripped France and much of western Europe, with elderly people accounting for the vast majority of fatalities.
Public Health France said approximately 1,000 additional deaths had been recorded since June 24 compared with figures typically seen during previous months. The agency cautioned that the numbers remain preliminary and are likely to rise as more data becomes available.
According to the agency, around 85 percent of the excess deaths involved people aged 65 and older. Areas placed under the highest-level red heat alert experienced the greatest impact, with the sharpest increase in deaths occurring in private homes rather than hospitals.
The ÃŽle-de-France region, which includes Paris and its surrounding suburbs, recorded some of the highest mortality figures during the extreme weather.
Health officials said the findings highlight the importance of checking on elderly people and those living alone during prolonged periods of intense heat.
“This observation serves as a reminder of the need for measures of solidarity toward people who are isolated or experiencing profound loneliness, including in highly urbanised areas,” Public Health France said in a statement.
The heatwave has begun to ease across France after several days of exceptionally high temperatures, with thermometers exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. The extreme conditions placed significant pressure on hospitals and emergency services while forcing authorities to introduce a range of public safety measures.
The severe weather has not been limited to France. Several European countries recorded unprecedented temperatures as the heat spread across the continent.
Germany registered a preliminary all-time record temperature of 41.5 degrees Celsius in Moeckern-Drewitz in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, surpassing the previous national record of 41.3 degrees set just one day earlier near Saarbruecken, according to the German Meteorological Service.
In Berlin, where temperatures climbed to 39 degrees Celsius, police deployed water cannons to spray people gathered in public spaces seeking relief from the intense heat.
Denmark also experienced its hottest day since weather records began in 1874. The Danish Meteorological Institute reported a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius north of the city of Aarhus.
The Czech Republic recorded a preliminary national high of 40.9 degrees Celsius north of Prague, while Switzerland registered its hottest June day on record.
Authorities in Slovakia also reported the hottest night ever measured in the capital, Bratislava, as temperatures remained unusually high after sunset.
Earlier in the week, France and Britain also set new temperature records for the month of June, highlighting the scale of the heatwave that has affected large parts of Europe.
Health officials across the region continue to urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during peak afternoon temperatures and pay close attention to elderly relatives and vulnerable neighbours as recovery efforts continue following one of Europe’s most intense heatwaves in recent years.
