France records 5,764 excess deaths in June heatwave, highest since 2003
Preliminary data from Santé publique France shows a 36% excess mortality rate, with half of deaths occurring in three days.
France recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July during a heatwave that affected 98.5% of the population, according to preliminary data released by Santé publique France. The agency described the excess mortality as without precedent since the historic heatwave of 2003, which caused 15,000 deaths. Half of the excess deaths occurred in just three days, from 25 to 27 June.
The figures have fuelled a political battle, with opposition parties accusing the government of unpreparedness. The Ecologists had anticipated a toll of 10,000 deaths for the June episode, a claim denied by Matignon. The health ministry rejected comparisons with 2003.
Two-thirds of the excess deaths were among people aged 75 and over, but the 45-64 age group also saw 979 excess deaths, a 55% increase. The Paris region was particularly affected, with mortality doubling to 1,999 excess deaths. The heatwave was described as unusually early and long-lasting, affecting 92 departments.
The June heatwave followed a first episode in May that caused 300 excess deaths, and a third heatwave occurred in mid-July. Last summer, France reported 5,700 heat-related deaths. The definitive toll for June is expected in autumn.
| Continental European press | +0.10 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Arab Levant-Maghreb press | −0.30 | critical |
| Latin American press | 0.00 | neutral |
The June heatwave caused 5,764 excess deaths in France, a record since 2003. Continental European media tend to frame it as a consequence of climate change, but with measured tones and focus on official data, without excessive alarm.
Heatwaves in France, with thousands of deaths, are placed in a narrative of climate injustice: rich countries like France cause global warming, but victims include the most vulnerable. Arab-Levantine media highlight the failure to protect the weak and the historical responsibility of the West.
The news of heat deaths in France is presented as a distant event, without much emphasis. Market-oriented Latin American media treat it as a minor international story, focusing on economic implications of climate change and repercussions for agricultural markets.
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