France records surge in deaths amid 11-day heatwave

France has registered around 1,000 excess deaths since June 24 compared with normal seasonal levels, according to Le Parisien, citing data from the national public health agency Santé publique France.

The agency reported that over a three-day period—June 24, 25 and 26—daily fatalities increased from a usual range of 900–1,000 to approximately 1,200–1,400. Nearly 85% of the deceased were aged over 65, with a significant share of cases occurring among elderly people staying at home, particularly in the Paris region.

Philippe Juvin, head of the emergency department at Georges Pompidou Hospital, said most elderly patients are dying before reaching medical facilities, while ambulance services are under severe strain. He also warned of a potential additional rise in deaths on Monday morning, when social services begin home visits to elderly individuals under care.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed that mortality has risen above seasonal norms. The situation comes amid an 11-day heatwave that experts describe as more intense than the catastrophic 2003 heatwave, with temperatures in parts of the country exceeding 40°C.

By Jeyhun Aghazada