▲ Heatwave in France
Health authorities announced that more than 1,200 excess deaths occurred during the consecutive heatwaves in France last month.
France's public health agency, Santé Publique France (SPF), announced on the 19th local time that a preliminary tally showed 1,243 excess deaths above normal averages during the heatwave period from July 3 to 22, according to BFM TV.
Health authorities explained that the vast majority of the deceased were elderly people aged 75 and older, though they noted it cannot be definitively concluded that the deaths were directly linked to the heatwave.
Excess deaths occurred in all locations, including nursing homes and hospitals, and authorities noted that cases of deaths at home showed a "marked increase."
The public health agency previously stated that a total of 5,764 excess deaths occurred during the heatwave period from June 17 to July 2.
About 300 excess deaths also occurred during the unusual heat in late May.
Combining all three periods, the number of excess deaths reaches 7,307.
AFP reported that day that its own analysis of Météo-France data showed the number of heatwave days has reached 52 since mid-June.
This significantly exceeds the 33 days in 2022 and the 22 days in the summer of 2003, when a deadly heatwave swept the country, marking the longest heatwave duration since meteorological observations began in 1947.
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