French health officials announced on Sunday that roughly 1,000 more individuals passed away than anticipated during a recent intense heatwave affecting Western Europe. Public Health France noted that these preliminary figures indicate a spike in mortality since June 24 compared to historical averages for the same period.
Data shows that regions designated with red alerts suffered the most significant impact, with 85 percent of the deceased being at least 65 years old. A notable rise in fatalities occurred among those in private residences, specifically within the Ile-de-France area encompassing Paris.
The agency highlighted the importance of supporting vulnerable, isolated individuals, particularly within dense urban environments. While temperatures began to drop on Sunday after peaking above 40C, officials cautioned that these death counts are likely conservative estimates that may increase as final reports are processed.
