France recorded 2,025 additional deaths during the exceptional heat wave that struck the country in late June, with nearly 9,000 deaths electronically certified nationwide between June 22 and June 28, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reviewed by broadcaster BFMTV. The increase coincided with the peak of a major heat wave that affected much of the country.
Health Minister Urges Caution on Data
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said the figures remain provisional because electronic death certificates do not cover all deaths recorded nationwide. Authorities cautioned that the current data should be interpreted carefully and may underestimate the full impact of the heat wave. Electronic death certificates account for around 60% of deaths nationwide, although coverage varies significantly across regions, according to officials.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Across Europe
France experienced several days of exceptionally high temperatures, with many regions recording temperatures above 35C (95F). The heat wave was part of a broader pattern across Europe. The UK also saw record-breaking temperatures in June, with a high of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, surpassing the previous June record of 35.6C set in 1957 and tied in 1976. Prof Stephen Belcher, chief scientist at the UK Met Office, stated: “Human-induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense.”
Climate Scientists Warn of Intensifying Heat
Ed Hawkins, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, noted: “We normally expect the records broken by small amounts – tenths, maybe up to a degree or so. So to have it shattered by such a large amount is noticeable and extraordinary, and of course this comes after a similar event in May.” The June heat wave brought high humidity and warm nighttime temperatures, with Cardiff recording a minimum of 23.5C on the night of June 24-25, the warmest June night ever recorded in the UK. Most of England and Wales experienced at least one tropical night (temperatures not falling below 20C) in June, historically rare in the UK.
Impact of Climate Change on Heat Waves
The UN’s weather agency called the June heat wave an “extraordinary” event across the continent. Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of such heat waves to human-induced climate change driven by fossil fuel burning. “We would definitely expect to see more and more tropical nights, as global temperatures keep rising,” said Hawkins.
