Paris region's June heatwave deaths more than doubled normal rate, report says
France's health agency reported that the June heatwave in the Paris region caused 3,000 deaths, more than double the expected number, with 82.4% of victims aged over 65. The heatwave was one of three that hit France since May and was described as 'more intense' than the deadly 2003 event.
France's public health agency, Santé Publique France, announced on Friday that the record-breaking heatwave that struck the Paris region in late June resulted in a death toll more than double the normal rate. According to a new report, the Ile-de-France region recorded 3,000 fatalities between June 22 and 28, which is 1,565 more than expected. The agency highlighted that the excess mortality was "very high" and primarily affected the elderly, with 82.4 percent of deaths occurring among people over 65.
This heatwave was part of a series of three that have swept across France since May. Initial national figures had indicated an excess of 2,000 deaths across the country, but that number was anticipated to rise. The Paris region was among the areas hardest hit by the extreme temperatures.
France's meteorological service noted that the 14-day June heatwave was even more intense than the infamous 2003 heatwave, which claimed 15,000 lives across France, although it was two days shorter. The heatwave also spread across Europe, breaking all-time temperature records in several countries.
Climate scientists from the World Weather Attribution network stated that such an extreme event would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of human-induced climate change. They described the heatwave as the "most severe ever recorded" based on a three-day forecast of average peak temperatures over the region studied.
The health agency cautioned that the death toll could still increase, as some heat-related health effects can take days to manifest.
