France.. Heatwave claims more than 2,025 lives in two weeks - Sarmad

The French Public Health Agency announced on Friday the first preliminary estimates of the exceptional heatwave that struck the country last June, noting that more than 2,000 excess deaths were recorded in a single week, according to Le Parisien.

French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn, in an interview with TF1 channel, stated that 2,025 excess deaths were recorded between June 22 and 28 compared to the previous week.

She clarified that these figures remain preliminary, as they are based solely on 60% of electronic death certificates and do not include paper death certificates, meaning the final toll is likely to rise.

She added that deaths at home increased by 91% compared to the previous week, reflecting, in her view, the plight of people living alone, and called for greater efforts to protect individuals isolated in their homes.