Heatwave: France Records 1,000 Excess Deaths

French health officials said on Sunday there had been around 1,000 more deaths than expected during a record-breaking heatwave that has baked much of western Europe for days.

“Since June 24, approximately 1,000 additional deaths (unconsolidated figures) have been observed compared to the deaths recorded in previous months,” Public Health France said in a statement.

The agency said areas under red alert for heat had been particularly badly affected, and 85 percent of the deaths had been those aged 65 and over.

The sharpest increases, the agency said, involved people dying at home, especially in the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris and its suburbs.

A man takes a shower on the beach along the “Promenade des anglais” on the French riviera city of Nice, on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP).

“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,” the statement said.

The agency stressed that the figures were preliminary and were likely to be an underestimate.

The heat eased across France on Sunday after days of punishing temperatures, with the mercury rising above 40C in many areas.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.