France experienced roughly 1,000 additional deaths last week during a record-breaking heatwave that affected much of Europe, the country’s public health agency reported Sunday. The surge in fatalities occurred amid unprecedented temperatures peaking at 44.3 degrees Celsius in southwestern France on Wednesday, marking the highest temperature ever recorded in the country. Public Health France noted that the excess deaths were particularly concentrated in private residences, especially around the Paris region, with mortality figures rising to more than 1,400 daily deaths on Thursday and Friday, compared to typical daily deaths of 900 to 1,000 in the preceding months. Around 85 percent of the fatalities involved individuals aged 65 and older. Authorities cautioned that the tally is preliminary and is expected to increase as further data on deaths outside hospitals is gathered.
The heatwave, which began around June 20, extended its reach across Europe, breaking temperature records in multiple countries over the weekend. Germany recorded a new high of 41.7 degrees Celsius in Neißemünde near the Polish border for the third consecutive day, while the Czech Republic registered its hottest day ever at 41.9 degrees Celsius, surpassing its previous record of 40.9 degrees. Poland also saw a record temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius in the border town of Słubice.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the severity of the situation, with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus describing Europe as the fastest-warming continent, heating at twice the global average. In a social media post, Tedros highlighted that approximately 150 million people in Europe were currently experiencing extreme heat, leading to hundreds of deaths, shuttered schools, and stressed energy infrastructures. He characterized heat stress as a "silent killer," noting that homes, workplaces, and schools in Europe are generally not designed to cope with such high temperatures. Tedros called on European nations to develop and implement comprehensive action plans focused on preparedness, prevention, and health system strengthening to mitigate the impact of future heatwaves.
Scientific analysis from the World Weather Attribution group found that the recent extreme heat and humidity would have been virtually impossible without the influence of climate change and is now 200 times more likely compared to two decades ago. The group noted the speed with which these events have become more frequent, describing a phenomenon once expected only once per generation as now occurring nearly every year.
Beyond France, the heatwave contributed to wildfires and other hazards across the continent. In Germany, a forest fire near the village of Traisen forced the evacuation of some 650 residents. Firefighting efforts were complicated by the presence of unexploded ordnance from World War II in the affected regions. Berlin police deployed water cannons at the Brandenburg Gate to cool down public crowds, and ambulance dispatches in the capital surged, particularly for heat-related illnesses. High temperatures also damaged infrastructure, leading to disruptions in train and tram services, including the evacuation of over 600 passengers from an overheated train in Brandenburg after a storm downed a power line.
Meanwhile, Sweden reported injuries from lightning strikes associated with severe thunderstorms following the heat, with three adults hospitalized after an incident at an amusement park in southern Tomelilla. Denmark recorded over 1,100 lightning strikes across the country during the weekend.
While the most intense heat has eased in much of France, parts of the northeast remain under heat advisories, and health officials caution that the effects of the heatwave may linger for days after temperatures begin to fall. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist warned that the health impact of the extreme conditions could last up to 10 days beyond the peak of the heat.