Paris region deaths more than doubled during June heatwave: health authorities
PARIS, France (AFP) — The rate of deaths in the Paris region was more than double normal levels during a record-breaking heatwave last month, France’s health agency said on Friday.
“A very high excess mortality rate was observed in Ile-de-France (between June 22 and 28) during the heatwave,” Sante Publique France said in a report recording 3,000 fatalities, “1,565 more deaths than expected”.
The heatwave in late June that swept across Europe broke all-time temperature records in several countries and caused at least 12,000 excess deaths in nine countries, according to national statistics and AFP analysis.
France has been hit hard by three heatwaves in as many months, in extreme weather the increasing frequency of which scientists have linked to man-made climate change.
The June heatwaves would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, the World Weather Attribution group of scientists said.
