On July 22, a report released by the French Public Health Agency stated that during the heatwave that swept through France from June 17 to July 2, at least 5764 excess deaths due to all causes were recorded in the country, which is a 36% increase compared to the normal expected level.
Excess deaths refer to the difference between the estimated total number of deaths in a specific location and at a specific time period, and the estimated number of deaths without health crises. Meanwhile, total deaths refer to all deaths, regardless of the specific cause of death.
The report states that the heat wave affected 92 departments in France, covering 98.5% of the country's population. Excess deaths were mainly reported from June 25 to 27, accounting for approximately 56% of the total deaths. Excess deaths occurred in all age groups except those under 15 years old. The increase in deaths was particularly significant among people aged 45 and above. There were at least 3719 excess deaths among people aged 75 and above, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of the preliminary statistics.
In terms of regions, Île-de-France, where Paris is located, has been the most severely affected area. The number of excess deaths is nearly 2,000, representing an increase of 81.2%. The number of deaths in hospitals, residences, and elderly care facilities has also increased.
On June 23, in Paris, France, an electronic display screen in front of the Eiffel Tower showed that due to the hot weather, the attraction would close earlier that day. Xinhua News Agency
Europe is the region most affected by these heatwaves. According to data from the European Mortality Surveillance Network, during the week from June 22nd to 28th, more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded in 27 European countries.
The Robert Koch Institute in Germany estimates that around 5,100 people in Germany died due to heat-related factors in June. A recent analysis published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK estimates that two heatwaves occurring in England and Wales in May and June may have caused more than 2,700 deaths.
In addition, countries such as Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and Greece also suffered from intense heatwaves. In some areas, these heatwaves were accompanied by wildfires.
It can be said that this heat wave has had an unprecedented impact on Europe, and its intensity even surpassed that of the catastrophic heat wave in 2003 in some regions. If it weren’t for this, the loss of life in Europe would likely have been even greater.
The French Public Health Agency points out that the excessive deaths in France this time reflect the significant impact on public health caused by extreme heat intensity and prolonged exposure to such high temperatures.
The existing data comes from civil registration records of approximately 5,000 municipalities, covering about 84% of deaths nationwide. This data does not include information on medical causes of death and is only used to estimate results at the national level. France will release a complete assessment after the summer monitoring period ends.
