Fez– France has recorded about 1,000 deaths during the record-breaking heatwave that swept across much of Europe, according to preliminary figures released by the country’s public health agency.
Officials warned that the death toll is likely to increase as more reports are collected from care homes and other residential facilities.
The agency, Santé Publique France, said most of those who died were aged 65 and older.
However, it stressed that the extreme temperatures affected people of all ages and placed significant pressure on public health services.
The heatwave, which began on June 20, brought exceptionally high temperatures across Europe.
Scientists have described it as the most severe heatwave ever recorded on the continent, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average because of climate change.
Beyond the human toll, the prolonged heat disrupted electricity generation, damaged infrastructure, and contributed to dozens of deaths across several European countries.
Weather conditions have started to improve in France as the heatwave moves east.
The national weather service said most parts of the country are no longer experiencing extreme temperatures, although some northeastern areas remain under heatwave alerts.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist warned that the health impact is far from over, saying the effects of prolonged exposure to extreme heat can continue for up to 10 days after temperatures begin to fall.
“The episode is not finished,” she said, noting that hospitals and health authorities remain on alert.
Public health officials expect the number of excess deaths to rise in the coming days as additional information is received, particularly from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
The latest figures underline the growing health risks posed by increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, especially for older people and other vulnerable groups.
