France records 1,000 excess deaths as historic heat wave eases across Europe

Heat wave toll emerges

Santé publique France announced on Sunday that approximately 1,000 additional deaths had been observed since 24 June, based on electronic death certificates. The agency stressed that the figure is unconsolidated and likely an underestimate, warning that "the mortality will be higher."

Since 24 June, around 1,000 additional deaths have been observed — unconsolidated figures — compared with deaths recorded in previous months.

The excess mortality overwhelmingly affects people over 65, who account for 85% of the cases. A striking 40% surge in deaths occurring at home has drawn particular concern, especially in the Île-de-France region around Paris.

Regional impact and hospitals under strain

The sharpest increases were registered in regions placed under red heat alert during the past days: Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire. On Friday alone, 109 people died in public places or at home in Paris, compared with a daily average of 14.

There is no way to adapt to an unprecedented peak in Europe.

Hospitals report a surge in emergency calls, with both patients and medical staff overwhelmed by the conditions.

Record temperatures across Europe

The heat wave broke national and local records well beyond France. Germany’s meteorological service confirmed an all-time high of 41.5 °C in Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, while Denmark logged 37 °C in Aarhus, its hottest June day since 1874. The extreme heat also closed stretches of autobahn A2 in Germany, with a police spokesperson noting, "The A2 keeps breaking up and we keep having to close one stretch after another." In Berlin, police deployed water cannons to cool residents.

Warnings of delayed effects

Although temperatures in France dropped on Sunday after 11 days of extreme heat, authorities warn that the health consequences are still unfolding. Heat has a delayed physiological impact, keeping hospitals under severe pressure and pointing to a further rise in the mortality count.

The mortality will be higher due to an underestimation of the data.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist had already cautioned on Saturday that deaths were running "above the usual" level. The current assessment starts only from 24 June, when the wave intensified and large parts of the country exceeded 40 °C. As of Sunday, just two departments remained on red alert, both in the north-east, though almost half of France, including the Paris region, stayed on orange alert.