French public health officials have reported 5,764 excess deaths during the June heatwave, marking the highest heatwave-related mortality since the deadly summer of 2003. The heatwave, which lasted from June 17 to July 2, coincided with 21,674 deaths from all causes in affected regions, compared to an expected 15,910 deaths under normal conditions. The excess deaths represent a 36% increase above expected mortality, with more than half occurring between June 25 and June 27. The Paris region was hit hardest, recording 1,999 excess deaths, roughly 80% more than expected without the heatwave. People aged 75 and older accounted for nearly two-thirds of the deaths, with an estimated 3,719 excess deaths in this age group. Nearly half of all deaths occurred in hospitals, while about one-third occurred at home, with the remaining deaths reported in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
France endured its hottest June on record, with a nationwide average temperature of 86°F (30°C). Overnight temperatures remained high, and daytime highs exceeded 104°F (40°C) in many areas on June 24 and 25. Public Health France cautioned that the figures are preliminary and will be refined after more comprehensive analyses later this year. The agency noted that the heatwave was driven by an 'Omega block', a weather pattern that traps hot air beneath a persistent high-pressure system for days. France was among several European countries affected by the early-summer heatwave, with Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain also experiencing extreme temperatures.
Additional impacts included 40 drowning deaths in France over one week in June as people sought relief from the heat. Across Europe, extreme temperatures resulted in well over 10,000 excess deaths at the height of the heatwave, according to emerging figures.