International

France records (5,764) deaths due to heatwave

Date of publication: July 23, 2026 08:05 KSA

Between June 17 and July 2, 2026

5,764 deaths were recorded during the severe heatwave that hit France between June 17 and July 2, 2026, half of them in just three days between June 25 and 27, in the highest increase in deaths since the historic heatwave of 2003.

The National Public Health Agency reported that the early and prolonged heatwave affected nearly all residents of the country (98.5%), impacting 92 departments during a "significant period for school and professional activities." France experienced a third heatwave in mid-July this year.

Last year, final figures from the National Health Authority recorded 5,700 deaths attributed to extreme heat throughout the summer of 2025. French authorities had called for caution due to dry and hot winds expected to intensify at the end of this week, along with record high temperatures and dry vegetation.