France records 2,025 excess deaths in one week due to heatwave

France has recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths during a week of extreme heat, Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Friday, as the country continues to grapple with a severe heatwave. Rist told reporters that deaths recorded between June 22 and June 28 were up 30% compared with the previous week, resulting in 2,025 additional fatalities above the seasonal average.

Healthcare strain and forecasts

The heatwave, which began on Thursday, has disrupted daily life across the country, forcing schools, construction sites, and local authorities to adjust operations or temporarily close facilities. Forecasters have warned that the episode could persist through much of next week and that its duration and severity could be comparable to the August 2003 heatwave, one of the deadliest weather events in modern French history. The government has activated the ORSAN health emergency plan at its highest level, strengthening hospital staffing and reinforcing coordination between hospitals, community medicine, and clinics.