7,300 excess deaths and counting in France’s historically hot summer
Sante Public France on Wednesday said it had recorded 1,243 more deaths than usual between July 2 and 22.
France has witnessed over 7,300 excess deaths so far this summer, according to health authorities. The country has experienced three consecutive heat waves, with the latest one starting late July and lasting at least 22 days as of Aug. 18. This has resulted in a record 52 days of heat waves since mid-June, the AFP analysis noted.
Between July 2 and 22, there were 1,243 more deaths than usual, adding to 5,764 excess deaths from June 17 to 30 and 300 deaths during the first period of high temperatures in late May. Nearly three-quarters of these additional deaths were among people aged 75 and over, though they affected all age groups 45 and over. The cause of these deaths remains undetermined, as they were due to all causes and cannot be definitively linked to the heat.
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