French health authorities revealed that 5,764 more deaths than the usual average occurred during an unprecedented severe heatwave in June, the highest in over 20 years.
On Wednesday, French health officials announced that the country experienced an unprecedentedly severe heatwave in June, resulting in 5,764 excess deaths above the normal average. They noted that the number of excess deaths among people aged 15 and older was unprecedented.
The French health agency stated that this is the highest mortality rate from a heatwave since the major 2003 heatwave that claimed around 15,000 lives.
Since May, France has faced three heatwave episodes, part of increasingly frequent extreme weather events. Scientists attribute this to human-driven climate change.
The soaring temperatures severely impacted France, as many homes, schools, and hospitals were not designed for extreme heat and lacked air conditioning.
The heatwave also caused many rivers to dry up and sparked multiple wildfires, including one last week that burned about 10% of the Fontainebleau Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Paris.
Data from Santé publique France shows excess deaths from all causes between 17 June and 2 July, though it is not yet confirmed how many were directly heat-related. Official summary figures will be released in autumn.
Last year, France recorded 5,722 excess deaths linked to heatwaves from June to mid-September.
Of the 5,764 excess deaths this year, about two-thirds were people aged 75 and older, less than 20% were aged 45-64, and nearly half occurred over just three days from 25 to 27 June.
France recently experienced the hottest June since records began in 1947, with many areas exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the nationwide average temperature on 24-25 June 2026 was the highest daily average ever recorded for any month.
Health officials reported that deaths in the Paris region increased by 80%, noting that during the week of 22-28 June, deaths had doubled.
In the last week of June, four young children died trapped in cars exposed to extreme heat, but these incidents have not significantly affected child mortality statistics.
Earlier, the first heatwave in May, which occurred earlier than usual, caused at least 300 excess deaths above average.
The French meteorological agency reported that of 53 heatwaves across the country since 1947 until the end of June this year, half have occurred since 2010, indicating a continuing increase in frequency and intensity.
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