France Records Nearly 5,800 Excess Deaths During Record Heatwave

French health authorities say a record-breaking heatwave last month led to 5,764 more deaths than expected, describing the excess mortality among people aged 15 and older as “unprecedented.”

The authorities disclosed on Wednesday that the extreme temperatures had a significant impact on public health, with the highest increase in deaths recorded among older adults, although excess mortality was observed across all age groups above 15.

The figures underscore the growing human toll of increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves linked to climate change.

This has prompted renewed calls for stronger measures to protect vulnerable populations during periods of extreme heat.