PARIS: A severe heatwave has swept across Europe, leaving more than 3,700 people dead and placing immense pressure on healthcare systems in several countries.
France has been the worst affected, where over 2,000 deaths were recorded during the final week of June, according to the national public health agency Santé Publique France. Officials said the figure is based on preliminary electronic death certificates and warned that the final toll could be higher.
Health authorities said the majority of excess deaths occurred among people aged over 45, with those aged 65 and above being the most affected. A sharp rise in fatalities was also recorded in homes, nursing facilities, and hospitals, highlighting the widespread impact of extreme temperatures.
The Paris region and surrounding areas reported the highest impact, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the excess deaths. Emergency departments also witnessed a surge in patients suffering from heatstroke, dehydration, kidney failure, and cardiovascular complications.
Other European countries also reported significant fatalities, with Belgium recording around 1,200 deaths and the Netherlands nearly 480 during the same period. However, officials noted that it remains unclear how many of these deaths were directly caused by the heatwave.
Meteorologists and climate scientists have linked the severity of the heatwave to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and intense in the coming years.
