French heatwave deaths jump 30% as Greens file no-confidence motion
A record-breaking June heatwave killed at least 2,025 people in France, triggering a political crisis over the country's climate resilience ahead of a third summer heatwave.
Deaths in France surged by nearly a third during a record-breaking June heatwave, according to new data from Public Health France. The agency reported a 29.1 percent increase, corresponding to 2,025 additional fatalities compared to the previous week. Officials noted this figure is probably "an underestimate."
The mortality spike was sharply concentrated in specific areas. Fatalities jumped by 62 percent in the Paris region during the week starting June 22. A similar surge was recorded in the Pays de la Loire region.
Full excess death figures for the entire country will not be released until later this month. The June heatwave lasted around 11 days and saw temperatures climb above 40C in many locations. Authorities consider this recent event more intense than previous extremes.
The prolonged heat included repeated "tropical nights," where temperatures never fell below 20C. These conditions are considered especially dangerous because the human body is denied the chance to cool itself overnight. For a continent facing more frequent extreme weather, the data highlights the recurring strain on public health systems.
Officials have drawn comparisons to the severe 2003 heatwave, which killed around 15,000 people in France, with many elderly victims dying in nursing homes. Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Friday that the current consequences "will probably not be comparable."
However, the toll is still expected to be severe. Nicolas Revel, director general of the Paris public hospital system, said he expects the June death count to be lower than 2003. He added it would "probably" be higher than an episode last year that claimed 5,700 lives.
The health crisis has quickly become a political one. Some French politicians have loudly denounced the authorities' inadequate measures to face rising temperatures. On Thursday, the Greens filed a no-confidence motion against the government of Sébastien Lecornu over the issue.
A third heatwave of the summer is forecast to hit the country from the weekend. Météo France predicts this upcoming event will be shorter and probably less intense than the June heatwave. Nevertheless, it will test a government already under severe political pressure.
