CLIMATE – France Records Over 800 ‘Excess’ Deaths During Latest Heatwave Spell

PARIS, September 16 – France recorded 817 “excess deaths” between July 27 and August 20 during a period of high temperatures, at least 751 of them people aged 75 and older, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, according to Le Monde.

The country’s national public health agency, Santé publique France, said this “excess all-cause mortality concerns almost exclusively people aged 75 and older, with at least 751 excess deaths”.

It added that “all regions were affected”, except Normandy and Occitanie. The figure brings the number of excess deaths during heatwave periods since the end of May to more than 7,300, according to Santé publique France.

The agency recorded 1,243 excess deaths between July 3 and 22 and 5,764 between June 17 and July 2.

“The final consolidated assessment of excess all-cause mortality for the whole summer, broken down by heatwave, will be presented in the summer assessment produced after the surveillance period,” Santé publique France said.

The agency recorded 300 deaths during the year’s first heatwave episode, between May 24 and 28. Its earlier estimates were based on preliminary, unconsolidated mortality data. For the June 17–July 2 heatwave, those aged 75 and older accounted for about two-thirds of excess deaths, while they represented three-quarters of the total between July 3 and 22.

Santé publique France concluded that “these impacts highlight the importance of implementing management and prevention measures to reduce the impact of heat on populations, without waiting to observe the health impacts”.

France experienced an exceptionally hot summer in 2026, described as the hottest ever recorded in the country, according to data from Météo-France.