Paris region deaths more than doubled during June heatwave: health authorities
Health authorities in France reported that the Paris region experienced more than double the expected death rate during a severe June heatwave. The report highlights that over 80% of the fatalities involved individuals aged 65 and older, with scientists linking the intensity of the event to climate change.
Why it matters
This data underscores the growing public health crisis posed by extreme weather events and the increasing vulnerability of aging populations to climate-driven heatwaves.
The rate of deaths in the Paris region during a record-breaking heatwave last month was more than double normal levels, France's health agency said on Friday.
"A very high excess mortality rate was observed in Ile-de-France (between June 22 and 28) during the heatwave," Sante Publique France said in a report recording 3,000 fatalities -- "1,565 more deaths than expected".
The Paris region was one of the hardest hit in terms of excess deaths during the June heatwave, one of three that swept across France since May.
Scientists have linked the increasing frequency of extreme weather to man-made climate change.
Initial excess death figures from the June heatwave showed 2,000 more fatalities than expected across France, but the number was expected to rise.
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