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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Via AP news wire

France recorded 5,700 more deaths than usual during its historic June heatwave

APTOPIX France Extreme Weather Heat - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

France recorded at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during a historic heatwave last month, the public health agency said Wednesday, sharply increasing its estimates of the feared toll from record-shattering temperatures.

Public Health France said regions hit by the heat from June 17 to July 2 recorded 21,674 deaths from all causes. But without a heatwave, those same regions would have been expected to have seen far fewer deaths, or 15,910, based on statistical modeling using data from previous years, it said.

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