France reports 29.1% jump in deaths during peak of record heat wave

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, France’s public health authorities reported that deaths rose 29.1% in the week starting June 22, an increase of 2,025 deaths, during the peak of a record nationwide heat wave. A report released Friday, July 3, said deaths in the Paris region rose 62% over the same period, with a similar surge in the Loire region, and officials expect the toll to rise further.

The report said most of the additional deaths were among people aged 45 and older, and noted the figure may be underestimated. Deaths at home nearly doubled over the week. Temperatures in parts of France exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in June, disrupting daily life and forcing school closures and train suspensions. The government led by Prime Minister Lecornu could face a parliamentary no-confidence vote on Monday, July 6, over its handling of the heat wave. Paris public hospital system chief Martin Revill said he expects the June heat-wave death toll to be lower than the roughly 15,000 deaths in 2003, but possibly higher than last year’s heat wave, which caused 5,700 deaths.