France suffered 5,764 excess deaths during a record-breaking heatwave that gripped the country from mid-June to early July, health authorities announced on Wednesday — the highest excess mortality linked to heat since the catastrophic summer of 2003, when around 15,000 people died. Santé Publique France, the national public health agency, described the toll as "unprecedented," noting that the surge in deaths affected all age groups from 15 years old upward, with a marked rise beginning at age 45.

The excess deaths were recorded over a 16-day period between June 17 and July 2, with the situation at its most acute during just three days — June 25 to 27 — which alone accounted for half of all the additional fatalities. Around two-thirds of the victims, at least 3,719 people, were aged 75 or older, reflecting the particular vulnerability of elderly populations to extreme heat. But the toll was also striking among the 45-to-64 age group, which saw 979 excess deaths — a 55% jump above the mortality rate normally expected at that time of year. In the greater Paris region of Île-de-France, mortality doubled compared to its usual level, with 1,999 excess deaths recorded over the period.

The heatwave was exceptional by any historical measure. France recorded its hottest June since records began in 1947, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many parts of the country. The average temperatures on June 24 and 25 were the highest ever recorded in France across all months combined. The extreme heat affected 98.5% of the French mainland across 92 of the country's 101 metropolitan departments, and struck during a period still busy with school and professional activity, adding to the difficulty of response.

The figures remain provisional and are expected to be consolidated in a final report this autumn. They do not yet formally attribute the deaths to heat specifically — the increase is classified as "all causes" excess mortality — though the timing and intensity of the heatwave make the link strongly implied. The data also does not capture France's full summer heat toll: a shorter, earlier heatwave in late May caused around 300 additional excess deaths, and a third episode of intense heat struck in mid-July. Last year's full summer heat death count stood at approximately 5,700.

The figures have already ignited political controversy, with opposition groups accusing the government of inadequate preparation. The Greens (Les Écologistes) had initially projected a death toll of 10,000 for the June episode — a figure disputed by the prime minister's office — while the health ministry pushed back against comparisons with 2003. Public health experts have warned that repeated exposure to successive heatwaves progressively weakens the body, placing particular strain on vulnerable groups including the elderly, children, people in poverty, and those with chronic illness.