France’s heatwave death toll has climbed sharply. Public Health France now reports 2,025 excess deaths for the week of June 22–28 alone — a 29% jump compared to the previous week — more than double the agency’s earlier estimate of 1,000 deaths.
The Paris region saw deaths rise 62% in that same week, and deaths in private homes surged 91%, which the health minister linked to the isolation faced by people living alone. Drowning deaths have also spiked, with more than 90 recorded since June 19. In Paris, funeral homes have reportedly run out of storage space for bodies.
Officials caution the true toll is likely higher, since the current count is based on incomplete data. For comparison, France’s catastrophic 2003 heatwave killed nearly 15,000 people — officials say this year’s wave likely won’t reach that scale, thanks to improved nursing home preparedness, but may exceed a heatwave last year that killed 5,700.
📊 In this video:
The updated 2,025 death toll explained
Why deaths in private homes spiked 91%
How this compares to France’s 2003 heatwave disaster
The political fallout inside the French government
If you’re dealing with extreme heat, check in on elderly family members and neighbors living alone — they’re most at risk.
#France #Heatwave #ClimateChange #Europe #PublicHealth #ExtremeWeather
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