The French National Public Health Agency announced the recording of 5,764 additional deaths during the severe heatwave that hit the country between June 17 and July 2, the highest increase in death rates since the historic heatwave that hit the country in 2003.

The agency explained that about half of the additional deaths were recorded in just three days, between June 25 and 27, noting that the increase in death rates included all age groups starting from 15 years old, with a more pronounced increase among people over 45, which it described as an unprecedented development, although it is not yet possible to definitively link all deaths to the heatwave.

Heat victims in France

It added that the heatwave, which was early and long-lasting, affected about 98.5% of the French population, covered 92 departments, coinciding with the period of school and work activity, increasing its impact on the population.

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The data showed that about two-thirds of the additional deaths were among people aged 75 and over, the group most vulnerable to complications of extreme heat due to their fragile health conditions.

Facing the heatwave

The death figures sparked political controversy in France, as opposition parties criticized the government, accusing it of insufficient preparation to face the heatwave, at a time when the country experienced a third heatwave in mid-July. For comparison, France recorded about 5,700 deaths linked to extreme heat during the summer of 2025, according to final figures from the National Health Authority.