Archive photo: People cool off in the spray of water at the Eiffel Tower in Paris (Image source – AP)
France has recorded about 1,000 more deaths than expected since June 24 during an unprecedented heatwave that has swept much of Western Europe, with the vast majority of victims aged 65 and over, French health authorities said on Sunday.The French Public Health Authority said that nearly 1,000 additional deaths had been detected compared to the levels of deaths recorded in previous months, although it stressed that the numbers are preliminary and likely to be an underestimate, according to Agence France-Presse.The worst impact was seen in areas under the highest level of red heat alert, where 85% of excess deaths were of people 65 or older, the agency said.
Most deaths occurred at home
According to Agence France-Presse, the largest increase in deaths was among people who died in their homes, especially in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs.The French Public Health Authority said: “This observation serves as a reminder of the need to take solidarity measures towards people who are isolated or suffering from deep loneliness, including in very urban areas.”Extreme temperatures began to ease across France on Sunday after several days of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.
Europe heat wave Breaks records
The deadly heatwave has affected large parts of Europe, breaking temperature records in many countries and disrupting transportation, healthcare and energy systems.Preliminary temperatures on record were recorded over the weekend in Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic, while Switzerland recorded its hottest June day.France and the UK had already broken June temperature records earlier in the week.Scientists said the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” had it not been for human-caused climate change, which has dramatically increased the potential for extreme night-time temperatures.
Hospitals are overcrowded, and transportation has been disrupted
Hospitals in Paris remained under extreme pressure during the heat wave, with nearly 3,000 people seeking treatment in public hospital emergency rooms for the second day in a row, about a third more than usual, according to the Associated Press.The city’s Public Hospital Authority has activated emergency plans in all 38 hospitals to deal with the surge.The severe weather also disrupted transportation across Europe.Rail services in France and Germany were affected by high temperatures, while motorways in Germany suffered road damage caused by buckling asphalt.In Switzerland, the Beznau nuclear power plant temporarily closed its reactors due to the high temperature of the Aare River.According to the Associated Press, experts said the latest heatwave exceeded temperatures recorded during France’s devastating 2003 heat wave, which killed about 15,000 people, though health officials said improved treatment and preparedness could help keep this year’s death toll below that level.