France Reports 2,025 Excess Deaths After Heatwave

France has reported more than 2,000 excess deaths during the final week of June following a record-breaking heatwave, as forecasters warn that another spell of extreme temperatures is set to affect parts of Europe in the coming days.

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French health authorities said 2,025 more deaths were recorded between 22 and 28 June compared with expected levels, representing a 29% increase from the previous week. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said there had been a "clear increase" in deaths among people aged over 45.

Heatwave Death Toll Rises Across Europe

The figures were released after France experienced its hottest average day on record on 24 June. Temperatures approached 41C in Paris, while around half the country was placed under the highest-level red heat alert.

Public Health France said deaths in the Paris region alone rose by 62% during the week. The health ministry added that the preliminary figures were likely to underestimate the final toll, suggesting mortality could ultimately be higher.

Heat Takes Toll Across the Continent

France was not the only country to report a sharp rise in deaths linked to the extreme weather.

Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths during the heatwave, 39% above normal levels, with nearly half of those who died aged 85 or older. The country's health ministry described the mortality during the heatwave as "unprecedented".

Dutch authorities also reported around 480 excess deaths after temperatures climbed to almost 40C in parts of the Netherlands. Most of those who died were aged 80 and over, with the highest mortality recorded in the country's south and east, where temperatures were highest.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said drowning fatalities also increased during the hot weather. Since 18 June, 72 people have died by drowning across the country.

Fresh Heatwave and Wildfire Risks

Meteorologists are warning that another period of intense heat is approaching.

According to BBC Weather, a large area of high pressure is building from the Azores towards Portugal and Spain and is expected to spread warmer conditions across France and southern Britain over the weekend.

Temperatures could reach 40C in southern France, with highs of 36C to 37C forecast around Bordeaux, Toulouse and Agen.

Météo-France has issued red alerts for forest fire risks on Friday and Saturday in southern France, warning that weather conditions make the likelihood of new fires "very high" compared with normal summer conditions.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said nearly 7,000 wildfires had broken out since the start of the summer season, burning about 8,700 hectares of land.

Nearly 3,000 residents were evacuated after a wildfire spread from Sainte-Marie-la-Mer to Canet-en-Roussillon on Thursday.

Warnings Extend Beyond France

Elsewhere, Portugal has declared a state of alert until midnight on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 40C in some areas and overnight lows remaining above 25C.

Spain's national weather service, Aemet, has warned that another heatwave is possible, with parts of the southwest under orange alerts as temperatures are forecast to reach 40C.

Meanwhile, prolonged extreme heat and high humidity are also affecting parts of the central and eastern United States during the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Scientists say climate change is increasing temperatures worldwide, with Europe warming about twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service. The trend has contributed to more frequent summer heatwaves, greater pressure on water supplies and increasingly severe wildfires across the continent.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 July 2026

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