PARIS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- France recorded an estimated 5,764 excess all-cause deaths during the heatwave from June 17 to July 2, French daily Le Figaro reported on Wednesday, citing the country's public health agency Sante publique France.
The preliminary estimate covers the 92 departments affected by the heatwave and represents an excess mortality rate of 36 percent, the agency said, adding that about half of the excess deaths occurred over the three-day period from June 25 to 27.
According to the agency, the excess mortality recorded during the heatwave was the highest in France since 2003.
The June heatwave followed a shorter and less intense episode from May 24 to 28, during which around 300 excess all-cause deaths were recorded, according to Le Figaro. France then experienced a third spell of high temperatures in mid-July.
For comparison, the public health agency recorded 5,700 heat-related deaths during the whole of summer 2025. ■
