France records over 5,700 excess deaths in late-June heat

France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during a historic heat wave in late June, marking the country's deadliest heat-related toll in more than two decades, health authorities announced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The national public health agency, Public Health France, reported that between June 17 and July 2, it expected 15,910 deaths but instead recorded 21,674, a difference of 5,764 fatalities that was 36 percent higher than expected.

The heat wave, characterized by its early onset, intensity, and duration, saw temperatures climb well above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in many parts of the country. Officials said the event exposed almost the entire population to extreme heat during a period still largely dedicated to school and work activities. The agency's analysis, which included people ages 15 and older, found mortality increased beginning at age 45. Adults 75 and older accounted for roughly two-thirds of the provisional death toll, representing at least 3,719 excess deaths.

The Paris region was hit hardest, recording 1,999 excess deaths, a figure more than 80 percent above what would have been expected without the heat wave. The hottest days occurred on June 24 and...