More than 800 'excess' deaths recorded in France during latest heat wave period

817 excess deaths recorded from July 27 to Aug. 20, mostly among those aged 75, older, says health ministry.

France recorded 817 “excess deaths” between July 27 and Aug. 20 during a period of high temperatures, with at least 751 involving those aged 75 and older, the Health Ministry said Wednesday, according to the Le Monde newspaper.

Sante publique France, the country's national public health agency, said that “this excess all-cause mortality concerns almost exclusively people aged 75 and over, with at least 751 excess deaths.”

It added that “all regions were affected,” except Normandy and Occitanie.

The figure brings the number of excess deaths during heat-wave periods since late May to more than 7,300, according to Sante publique France.

The agency recorded 1,243 excess deaths between July 3 and 22 and 5,764 between June 17 and July 2.

“The final estimate of consolidated excess all-cause mortality for the entire summer, broken down by heat wave, will be presented in the summer assessment produced after the surveillance period,” said Sante publique France.

The agency also recorded 300 deaths during the first heat wave episode of the year, between May 24 and 28.

Its previous assessments were based on preliminary, unconsolidated mortality data.

For the June 17 to July 2 heat wave, those aged 75 and older accounted for about two-thirds of the excess deaths, while they represented three-quarters of the total during July 3 to 22.

Sante publique France concluded that “these impacts highlight the importance of implementing management and prevention measures to reduce the impact of heat on populations, without waiting to observe health impacts.”

France experienced an exceptionally hot summer in 2026, with the season described as the hottest ever recorded in the country, according to data from Meteo-France.