France Reports Over 5,700 Excess Deaths During June Heatwave

France recorded 5,764 excess deaths during the June and July heatwaves, marking the country's deadliest heat-related event since the devastating 2003 summer, according to French health authorities.

The report said France experienced its hottest June since records began in 1947, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several regions.

The extreme conditions placed significant pressure on funeral services. Funeral director Gautier Caton said he rented five refrigerated containers to accommodate the surge in deaths and accepted additional bodies from overwhelmed funeral homes in Paris.

Former public health agency chief Francois Bourdillon said the crisis highlights the need for a long-term national strategy to better prepare hospitals, care homes, and public infrastructure for increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.

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— Reuters (@Reuters) July 22, 2026

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