Record-Breaking Heatwave in France Leads to Funeral Home Crisis and 'Long-Distance Funerals'

The worst record-breaking heatwave in history is sweeping across France, causing a surge in deaths and paralyzing social infrastructure, including funeral homes.

According to the French Public Health Agency, there have been 1,000 more deaths than the seasonal average in just three days since June 23, when record-high temperatures were shattered.

The damage has been concentrated in areas under a red heat alert, including the capital, Paris, as well as Normandy and Bordeaux. Eighty-five percent of the deceased were elderly people aged 65 or older, who are vulnerable to the climate crisis.

As the human toll continues to rise uncontrollably, AFP reported that the occupancy rate of funeral homes nationwide has surged to over 66 percent, nearly double the usual level.

Elisabeth Charrier, head of the French National Funeral Association, told AFP, "There are only two funeral homes in central Paris, and both have been full since June 26," adding, "Bereaved families are in a position where they have to travel to distant regions because they cannot find funeral spaces."

With cremation appointments filling up instantly and waiting times for burials increasing, the suffering of the bereaved families is only deepening.

Political debate in France over this heatwave is also intensifying.

In response to the opposition party, Yadang, demanding political accountability for the authorities' inadequate response, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez dismissed the claims in an interview with the daily newspaper Le Parisien, stating, "This is not a failure, but an unprecedented climate disaster."

The scale of the damage is also largely attributed to France's extremely low air conditioning penetration rate.

This is because installing air conditioning is difficult in France due to old architectural structures and strict landscape preservation regulations.

Experts point out that as the frequency of extreme heatwaves increases due to climate change, it is time to overhaul the overall response system, including medical and funeral systems, as well as cooling infrastructure.

Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Ui-seon | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.