Nearly 1,000 more deaths than expected have been recorded in France since June 24 during a record-breaking heat wave that swept much of Western Europe, French health officials said on Sunday, with the majority of victims aged 65 and older.According to news agency AFP, Public Health France said it had seen about 1,000 additional deaths compared to those recorded in previous months, although it stressed that the figures were preliminary and possibly an underestimate.The agency said the worst impact was seen in areas placed under the highest level of red heat alert, where 85 percent of the additional deaths involved people 65 or older.
Most of the deaths occurred at home
According to AFP, the sharpest rise in deaths was among people who died at home, particularly in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs.“This observation reminds us of the need for solidarity measures towards people who are isolated or experiencing deep loneliness, including in highly urbanized areas,” Public Health France said.After temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country for several days, the scorching heat began to subside across France on Sunday.
Europe heatwave breaks records
The deadly heat wave has hit large parts of Europe, breaking temperature records in many countries and disrupting transportation, healthcare and energy systems.Early all-time temperature records were set over the weekend in Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic, while Switzerland recorded its hottest day of June.France and the United Kingdom broke June temperature records earlier in the week.Scientists said heatwaves would have been “almost impossible” without human-induced climate change, which has dramatically increased the likelihood of extreme night-time temperatures.
Hospitals overwhelmed, transportation disrupted
Paris hospitals have been under severe pressure during the heat wave, with nearly 3,000 people being treated in public hospital emergency rooms for the second day in a row – about a third more than usual, according to news agency AP.The city’s public hospital authority activated emergency plans at all 38 hospitals to deal with the surge.The extreme weather also disrupted transportation across Europe.Rail services in France and Germany were affected by high temperatures, while Germany’s Autobahn suffered road damage due to peeling asphalt.In Switzerland, the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant temporarily shut down its reactors due to high temperatures of the Aare River.According to the AP, experts said the latest heatwave has surpassed temperatures recorded during France’s devastating 2003 heatwave that killed nearly 15,000 people, although health officials said better treatment and preparedness could help keep the death toll below that level this year.