5,700 excess deaths in France due to June heatwave

The French National Public Health Agency announced that the country experienced 5,700 excess deaths compared to the usual number during the historic heatwave in June, sharply raising its estimates of the toll feared from the unprecedented record-breaking temperatures.

Agence France-Presse quoted the French agency as saying that the areas affected by the heatwave between June 17 and July 2 recorded 21,674 deaths from all causes. It added that, without the heatwave, those same areas would have been expected to see a much lower number of deaths, or 15,910 cases, based on statistical modeling using data from previous years.

The agency stated that the difference between expected and actual deaths, totaling 5,764 cases, represents excess mortality during the heatwave.