France reported a sharp surge in deaths during last week’s record-breaking heatwave, with its national public health agency estimating about 1,000 additional deaths at the height of the extreme temperatures. The agency said the figure could increase as authorities receive more information on fatalities, including those occurring at home and in residential care settings.
The increase was concentrated during the hottest days of the event and was especially pronounced in the Paris region, where the agency also noted a rise in heat-related calls to households. It said that deaths were largely among older people, with the majority involving people aged 65 and above.
The heatwave was part of a broader European pattern of record temperatures that left many countries grappling with heat-related health impacts and other disruptions, including wildfires and strain on emergency services. France’s agency said many of the country’s most severe effects occurred during periods when the weather warnings were most intense, covering a large share of the nation at the peak.
As the heat eased in some areas, officials warned that health impacts can persist for days, and they indicated the death toll estimate will be updated as data collection continues.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
