France records 2,025 excess deaths in June heatwave
France endured a rise of nearly 30 percent in the number of deaths recorded during the week of June 22, the peak of a record-breaking heatwave that battered the country, the public health authority said Friday.
"There were around 2,025 additional deaths for the week of June 22 to 28 compared with the previous week," French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told local media on Friday, warning that the tally was nowhere near complete.
The new figure marked a significant rise from the previous estimate of at least 1,000 heat-related deaths.
Public Health France said in a new report there had been "an increase of 29.1 percent, corresponding to 2,025 additional deaths compared with the previous week" while noting that the figure was probably "an underestimate".
The number of deaths increased by 62 percent in the Paris region during the week starting 22 June, the report said. A similar spike has been reported in the Pays de la Loire region.
Some French politicians have denounced what they call the authorities' inadequate measures to help France face rising temperatures. The Greens on Thursday filed a no-confidence motion against the government of Sébastien Lecornu.
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In June, France experienced a record-breaking heatwave which lasted around 11 days and saw temperatures climb above 40C in many places.
Around 15,000 people died in France during a severe heatwave in 2003, with many elderly people dying in nursing homes.
The June heatwave is considered more intense, but authorities say its consequences have been less severe.
"It will probably not be comparable," Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said on Friday.
Nicolas Revel, director general of the Paris public hospital system, has said he expected the death toll from the June heatwave to be lower than that of 2003, but "probably" higher than an episode last year that claimed 5,700 lives.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)