The number of deaths recorded in France rose by nearly 30% during the hottest week of last month’s record-breaking European heatwave, according to the country’s public health authority, which warned the true toll is likely higher.
Public Health France said there were 2,025 additional deaths in the week of 22-28 June compared with the previous week – an increase of 29.1%. The figure is still partial and expected to rise. An earlier estimate covering just the three hottest days had put the excess at at least 1,000 deaths.
Disproportionate impact on older age groups
The increase in mortality was concentrated almost entirely among people aged 45 and over, with those aged 65 and above bearing the heaviest burden. “Although we are seeing a clear rise among 45- to 64-year-olds, people aged 65 and over account for the largest share of deaths,” the authority said.
Deaths recorded in private homes nearly doubled within a single week, and the Paris region was the worst affected, with a 62% week-on-week rise in recorded deaths. Nicolas Revel, director general of the Paris public hospital system, said he expected the final death toll to be lower than the catastrophic 2003 heatwave but “probably” higher than an extreme heat episode last year that claimed 5,700 lives.
Belgium and the Netherlands also hit hard
Elsewhere in Europe, Belgium’s health ministry reported approximately 1,200 excess deaths between 18 and 29 June, describing the level of excess mortality during a heatwave as “unprecedented” in the country. Of those, 530 were among people aged 85 or older, with 180 deaths in those under 65. The peak in excess mortality occurred on 27 June. The Dutch government said the heatwave led to about 480 excess deaths, mainly among the elderly, with the over-80s most affected.
According to data from the European Drought Observatory and population figures from the Joint Research Centre, more than two-thirds of Europeans experienced temperatures above 35C during the June heatwave. Hundreds of temperature records fell across the continent. France registered its hottest-ever days, with previous day- and night-time highs shattered in cities and towns. All-time records were broken in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary, while June records fell in the UK and Switzerland. France’s average temperature measured across the country also hit an absolute high.
Environmental consequences across Europe
The extreme heat also triggered severe environmental impacts. In Italy, the Po River Basin Authority said several waterways were in a “critical state” due to drought. Lake Maggiore, at the foot of the Alps, is only 48% full; dry sections of the Po riverbed have been left exposed. In response, the Veneto region declared a state of emergency on Thursday.
In Switzerland, the Rhône Glacier experienced a “Glacier Loss Day” on 29 June, causing excessive melting of decades- or centuries-old snow. Matthias Huss, director of Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, said the resulting water could have filled an Olympic-sized swimming pool every six seconds for two weeks.
Climatologists from the World Weather Attribution said these temperatures would have been virtually impossible in June without climate change.