France recorded 5,764 excess deaths during an early summer heatwave between 17 June and 2 July, according to updated figures released by the national public health agency on Wednesday, with the revised toll almost three times higher than an initial estimate published last month.
Santé Publique France said the figure represented a 36 per cent increase in mortality above the expected baseline during the period. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist had previously estimated that 2,025 excess deaths had occurred, but more complete mortality data revealed the full scale of the heatwave's impact.
