France Reports Around 1,000 Excess Deaths After Record Heatwave

French health authorities said on Sunday that a record-breaking heatwave sweeping across much of western Europe has been linked to around 1,000 more deaths than normally expected, with older people accounting for the vast majority of fatalities.

Public Health France said preliminary figures showed that since June 24, approximately 1,000 excess deaths had been recorded compared with mortality levels seen in previous months. Officials cautioned that the figures remain provisional and could rise as additional data becomes available.

According to the agency, regions placed under the country’s highest red heat alert experienced the greatest impact. Around 85 percent of those who died were aged 65 or older, highlighting the heightened risks extreme temperatures pose to elderly people.

Health officials said one of the most concerning trends was the increase in deaths occurring at home rather than in hospitals or care facilities. The Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and its surrounding suburbs, recorded some of the sharpest increases in mortality during the heatwave.

Public Health France said the findings underline the importance of checking on elderly people, particularly those living alone or experiencing social isolation.

“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 urbanized areas,” the agency said in a statement.

Authorities stressed that the current death toll is based on unconsolidated data and is likely to underestimate the full impact of the extreme weather event. Officials expect a clearer assessment once all mortality records have been reviewed in the coming weeks.

France endured several days of exceptionally high temperatures as a heatwave affected large parts of western Europe. Temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas, placing significant pressure on health services and prompting authorities to issue red weather warnings in several regions.

The extreme heat also led officials to advise residents to remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day, stay hydrated and regularly check on vulnerable relatives and neighbours. Local authorities opened cooling centres in some cities and increased public health messaging aimed at reducing heat-related illnesses.

Conditions began to improve on Sunday as cooler air moved across the country, bringing relief after days of intense heat. Even so, health experts warned that the effects of prolonged high temperatures can continue for days after the weather cools, particularly among older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.

French authorities said they will continue monitoring mortality data and assessing the longer-term health impact of one of the country’s most severe heatwaves in recent years.