France has reported a sharp rise in deaths during the hottest week of last month’s record-breaking heat wave. According to Public Health France, nearly nine thousand deaths were recorded between June 22 and 28, about 29 per cent higher than the previous week, indicating at least 2,000 additional deaths.
The agency said the figures remain incomplete and the final toll is expected to be higher. Authorities reported significant increases in deaths at private homes, hospitals and care homes, with the Paris region recording the steepest rise.
The Public Health France said there was a particularly sharp increase week-on-week in the number of deaths in private homes, with those figures up 91 per cent.
Deaths in care homes for older people increased by 37 per cent and in hospitals by nearly 20 per cent. Hospitals witnessed a surge in patients suffering from dehydration, heart attacks, kidney complications and other heat-related illnesses.