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File photo: People cool off in a water spray at the Eiffel Tower in Paris (Picture credit - AP)
France has recorded around 1,000 more deaths than expected since June 24 during the record-breaking heatwave that swept across much of western Europe, with the vast majority of victims aged 65 and above, French health authorities said on Sunday.Public Health France said approximately 1,000 additional deaths had been observed compared with mortality levels recorded in previous months, though it stressed the figures were preliminary and likely an underestimate, according to news agency AFP.The agency said the worst impact was seen in areas placed under the highest-level red heat alert, where 85 per cent of the excess deaths involved people aged 65 or older.
Most deaths occurred at home
According to AFP, the sharpest increase in deaths was among people who died at home, particularly in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs."This observation serves as a reminder of the need for measures of solidarity toward people who are isolated or experiencing profound loneliness, including in highly urbanised areas," Public Health France said.The intense heat began easing across France on Sunday after several days of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.
Europe heatwave breaks records
The deadly heatwave has affected large parts of Europe, shattering temperature records across several countries and disrupting transport, healthcare and energy systems.Preliminary all-time temperature records were set over the weekend in Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic, while Switzerland recorded its hottest June day.France and the United Kingdom had already broken June temperature records earlier in the week.Scientists said the heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-driven climate change, which has dramatically increased the likelihood of extreme night-time temperatures.
Hospitals overwhelmed, transport disrupted
Hospitals in Paris remained under severe pressure during the heatwave, with nearly 3,000 people seeking treatment in public hospital emergency rooms for a second consecutive day—about one-third more than normal, according to news agency AP.The city's public hospital authority activated emergency plans across all 38 hospitals to cope with the surge.The extreme weather also disrupted transport across Europe.Rail services in France and Germany were affected by high temperatures, while Germany's Autobahn suffered road damage caused by buckling asphalt.In Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant temporarily shut down its reactors because of the high temperature of the River Aare.According to AP, experts said the latest heatwave exceeded temperatures recorded during France's devastating 2003 heatwave, which claimed around 15,000 lives, although health officials said improved treatment and preparedness could help keep this year's death toll below that level.
