France: More than 1,200 dead in July heatwave
Santé publique France has released data on excess deaths during the second heatwave that affected 78 departments. The total death toll this summer approaches seven thousand.
Santé publique France has released data on excess deaths during the second heatwave that affected 78 departments. The total death toll this summer approaches seven thousand.
France's Ministry of Health released data on Wednesday, August 19, regarding mortality during the July heatwave. According to records from the public health agency Santé publique France (SPF), there were 1,243 excess deaths recorded between July 3 and July 22.
At a press conference, the ministry clarified that deaths occurred in all settings, but with a strong signal related to deaths at home. This heatwave was less intense than the one in June, but exceptional in its duration and territorial scope, affecting 78 departments.
As Sébastien Denys, director of the health-environment-work department at SPF, explained in more detail, the increase in mortality from "all causes" was observed in all age categories, particularly pronounced among those over 45. However, he cautioned that these numbers cannot yet be definitively attributed solely to the heat. Additionally, Guillaume Boulanger, head of the environmental quality department at the same agency, noted that "special analyses of death certificates will be needed to investigate the exact causes and characteristics."
A more precise figure on the number of deaths directly attributable to heat will only be known at the end of the summer period, around September-October, when all collected data are analyzed. Denys emphasized that the final estimate will depend on the conclusion of heat episodes.
These July figures follow significantly worse numbers from June. In a previous SPF report, published on July 22, 5,764 excess deaths were recorded during the exceptional heatwave that struck the country between June 17 and July 2. According to Le Figaro, that figure was recorded from June 17 to June 30, indicating a slight discrepancy between sources regarding the exact end date of the first heatwave. Additionally, the first heatwave in late May brought around 300 additional deaths, bringing the total for May to July to 7,307 excess deaths, according to agency data.
France Info reports that this was unprecedented mortality in France since 2003. Together, the two heatwaves of summer 2026 brought nearly seven thousand excess deaths. The Paris region, as well as the Grand Est and Pays de la Loire areas, were particularly affected, while the southeast and Corsica did not see increased mortality in June.
The data come amid a continued rise in global temperatures. Since the 19th century, the Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.3°C, and the scientific community confidently links this rise to human activities and the consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. According to an AFP analysis based on data from the national meteorological service Météo-France, France has recorded a record 52 days of heatwaves since mid-June, significantly more than the 33 days in 2022 and the 22 days in the deadly year of 2003.
Although these are French figures, such reports serve as a warning for the rest of Europe, including Croatia, where heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense. A photograph of an elderly person seeking shade from the heat was taken on July 12 in Pont-Audemer in the Eure department, bearing witness to citizens' daily struggle with extreme temperatures.
