Record June heatwave sees France record 'unprecedented' 5,764 excess deaths

The figure represents the highest excess mortality rate during a heatwave in the country since 2003, when extreme temperatures killed around 15,000 people, according to France's official public health portal Santé Public.

Three heatwaves have swept across France since May, the latest instances of  increasingly frequent extreme weather events which scientists have linked to man-made climate change.

The soaring temperatures caused havoc in a country where the majority of homes, schools and hospitals are not designed for such heat and do not have air conditioning.

They have also dried up riverbeds and sparked wildfires, including one that last week ravaged a tenth of the vast UNESCO-listed forest of Fontainebleau outside Paris.

France's Fontainebleau forest faces long recovery after wildfires

Record highs

The excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July were due to “all causes” and have not yet been demonstrably linked to the heat, Santé Public France said, adding that final figures would be published in the autumn.

Of these deaths around two-thirds were people aged 75 or older. Half passed away in just three days from 25 to 27 June. 

Deaths in the Paris region rose by 80 percent, Santé Public said, after reporting last week they doubled in the week of 22 to 28 June. 

During that week, four young children died across France after being trapped in hot cars.

At least 300 more people than usual also died during an uncommonly early first heatwave in May.

France last month recorded its hottest June since records began in 1947, with temperatures spiking above 40C in many places. The average temperatures on 24 and 25 June were the highest ever recorded in France.

(with newswires)