The number of deaths in France jumped by nearly 30% during the hottest week of last month’s record-breaking heatwave that swept across much of Europe, according to the public health authority. It also warned that the death toll is expected to rise further.
Public Health France reported on Friday that there was “an increase of 29.1%, which equals 2,025 more deaths compared to the previous week.” It noted that this figure is likely “an underestimate” and that “mortality will continue to increase.”
These new, still incomplete numbers double the earlier estimate of at least 1,000 extra deaths given by the authority last Sunday. That earlier estimate only covered three of the hottest days of extreme heat.
Belgium’s health ministry reported that excess deaths totaled around 1,200 between June 18 and 29, with 530 of those deaths among people aged 85 or older. The Dutch government said the heatwave caused about 480 excess deaths, mostly among the elderly.
The updated French figures cover the week of June 22 to 28, when France experienced its hottest days ever, breaking previous daytime and nighttime records in cities and towns across the country. Hundreds of records also fell in other parts of Europe.
Public Health France said it had recorded 8,973 deaths for that week so far, but cautioned that the number is still incomplete. It noted that this preliminary total is 29% higher than the 6,948 deaths recorded the previous week (June 15-21).
The increase was almost entirely among people aged 45 and older, with those over 65 hit hardest. “While we see a clear rise among 45- to 64-year-olds, people aged 65 and over account for the largest share of deaths,” the authority said.
Deaths at home saw the biggest increase, nearly doubling in just one week, and Paris was the worst-affected region. The number of deaths in the capital rose by 62% compared to the previous week, according to Public Health France’s weekly report.
Nicolas Revel, director general of the Paris public hospital system, said he expects the death toll from the June heatwave to be lower than that of 2003, but “probably” higher than last year’s extreme heat episode, which claimed 5,700 lives.
More than two-thirds of Europeans experienced temperatures above 35°C during the June event, according to AFP, which based its calculations on temperature data from the European Drought Observatory and population figures from the Joint Research Centre.
The news agency said areas home to about 410 million people in Europe were affected, including nearly the entire population of mainland France and more than three-quarters of the combined populations of Spain and Italy.
All-time temperature records were broken in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary, as well as June records in the UK and Switzerland. France recorded its hottest June since records began in 1947, with temperatures averaging 3.8°C above the seasonal norm for 1991-2020, according to Météo-France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the reported 30 increase in deaths in France during the June heatwave
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Did the heatwave in France actually kill that many people
A Yes official data showed that during the hottest week of the June heatwave the number of deaths in France was 30 higher than what is normally expected for that time of year This is known as excess mortality
Q What does a 30 jump in deaths really mean in numbers
A It means that for every 100 people who would normally die in a week about 130 people died In total health officials estimated that over 1500 extra deaths occurred during that specific week
Q Who was most at risk during this heatwave
A The most vulnerable were elderly people people with chronic illnesses and those living alone without air conditioning or help
Q Was this heatwave worse than the famous 2003 heatwave in France
A It was very serious but the 2003 heatwave was deadlier However the 2022 heatwave was notable because it happened much earlier in June catching people off guard
Advanced Questions
Q What specific health conditions caused the deaths
A Direct heatstroke was a major cause but most deaths were from the worsening of preexisting conditions The heat puts extreme stress on the heart lungs and kidneys leading to heart attacks strokes and respiratory failure
Q Why did deaths spike so sharply if France has a heatwave plan
A France does have a good heatwave alert system but the June heatwave was recordbreaking The timing meant people werent physically adapted to the heat Also many elderly people were still vulnerable in poorly insulated apartments
Q How do officials know the heatwave was the cause and not something else
A They use a statistical model called excess mortality They compare the number of deaths during the heatwave to the average number of deaths for the same week over the previous five years A 30 spike that lines up perfectly with the hot weather is a very strong indicator
