France records nearly 30% increase in deaths during June’s heatwave

Published on 03/07/2026 - 10:05 GMT+2

Santé publique France, the national public health agency, reported an increase of 29.1% in the number of deaths — equivalent to 2,025 additional deaths compared with the previous week — while cautioning that the figure is "probably an underestimate."

Mortality rose particularly sharply in the Paris region, where deaths increased by 62% during the week of 22 June. A comparable surge was also observed in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

The figures come as opposition politicians criticise the government's response to extreme heat. On Thursday, the Greens filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government, arguing it had failed to adequately prepare the country for rising temperatures.

France's June heatwave lasted around 11 days, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many areas. Although officials describe it as more intense than the deadly 2003 heatwave, they say its overall health impact is expected to be less severe.

Nicolas Revel, director general of the Paris public hospital system, said he expected the final death toll from the June heatwave to be lower than in 2003, which accounted for around 15,000 deaths, but "probably" higher than last year's heat episode, which claimed about 5,700 lives.