France Reports 1,000 Excess Deaths Amid Record-Breaking Heatwave Impact
Heatwave Causes Excess Deaths and Ongoing Health Concerns in France
By Makini Brice
Preliminary Death Toll and Vulnerable Populations
PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - France has recorded 1,000 excess deaths during the blistering heatwave sweeping Europe, the public health agency said on Sunday, warning that the true figure was likely to be higher.
Older Adults Most Affected
Detailing its preliminary count of excess deaths, Sante Publique said most of the fatalities involved older people and that it expected the mortality rate to rise as more information became available about deaths in residential care and homes.
Wider European Impact of the Heatwave
Europeans have been enduring blistering conditions during a heatwave that has been linked to dozens of deaths - shattering records, disrupting power generation and damaging infrastructure.
Scientific Perspective on the Heatwave
Scientists have said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, where the climate is changing faster than the global average.
Current Situation and Official Responses
Extreme Heat Eases in France
EXTREME HEAT EASES IN FRANCE
The heatwave has been moving east. But while France's weather agency said the extreme heat had diminished in most parts of the country, some areas in the northeast were still under a heatwave advisory.
Health Minister's Warning on Lingering Effects
Health Minister Stephanie Rist told La Tribune newspaper that the impact of the heatwave could linger for as long as 10 days after the weather had ebbed.
"The episode is not finished," she told broadcaster BFM.
Impact Across All Age Groups
Most of the deaths involved people aged 65 and older, though the health effects of the extreme heat affected all categories of the population, Sante Publique said.
(Reporting by Makini Brice;Editing by Helen Popper)
