France recorded 2,025 excess deaths during the last week of June’s record-breaking heatwave, the Public Health France agency announced on Friday – a 30% jump from the week before – as forecasters warn of further extreme temperatures across Europe in the coming days.
Deaths rose by 62% in the Paris region alone, and French health minister Stéphanie Rist said there had been a “clear increase” in deaths among those over 45. The French health ministry said the figure was likely an “underestimate” and mortality would “therefore be higher than these initial figures”.
“France recorded 2,025 excess deaths in June heatwave as UK braces for third heatwave with temperatures up to 34°C.”
The death toll comes as the UK braces for its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures set to climb to 34°C by Thursday or Friday. A week-long yellow heat health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) came into force at midday on Saturday, covering the East Midlands, east, south-east and south-west of England, including London, and the West Midlands, until July 11.
Aidan McGivern, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “It’s not going to be as hot or as humid so not quite as uncomfortable, and not quite as impactful. It also will not affect the whole of UK.” While southern England bakes, western Scotland faces heavy rain with a risk of over 100mm of rain by the end of the weekend.
Across the continent, the heatwave has proved particularly deadly. Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths – 39% more than usual – with almost half being people aged 85 and over. The country’s health ministry called the number “unprecedented”. In the Netherlands, about 480 excess deaths were reported, most aged 80 and older.
French interior minister Laurent Nuñez said on Saturday that 72 people had died by drowning since 18 June during the heatwave.
France saw its hottest day ever on average country-wide on 24 June, with temperatures reaching almost 41°C in Paris and half the nation placed under a red heat alert. Climate change is driving the trend: according to the Copernicus climate service, Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average. This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on water supplies, and more intense wildfires.
As millions of Americans celebrated the Fourth of July holiday weekend, they too were affected by prolonged extreme heat and high humidity in parts of the central and eastern US.