ALBAWABA- France has recorded a dramatic surge in heat-related fatalities, with emergency services in Paris reporting 109 deaths within 24 hours as an intense early-summer heatwave continues to grip much of Europe.
French emergency medical service (SAMU) said the capital experienced an unprecedented spike in mortality during the latest 24-hour period, compared with a seasonal average of about seven deaths.
The same period also saw 25 cardiac arrests, more than double the usual daily average, as extreme temperatures placed severe strain on vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Authorities said the sharp rise in deaths was largely linked to the heat aggravating pre-existing medical conditions rather than direct heatstroke alone.
The heatwave has also fueled a sharp increase in drowning fatalities across France. Officials said 55 people have died in drowning incidents nationwide as soaring temperatures drove thousands to seek relief in rivers, lakes, and other unsupervised swimming areas. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said many of the victims were young people swimming without supervision.
Additional deaths have been linked to heat-related illnesses among elderly residents, while several children have reportedly died after being left in overheated vehicles.
Temperatures exceeded 40°C (104°F) across large parts of France, with Paris reaching 40.9°C, setting a new June record. National average temperatures also reached record highs, making this one of the country's most intense June heatwaves on record.
The extreme weather has strained infrastructure nationwide, causing power outages affecting tens of thousands of households, reducing output at some nuclear power plants, forcing school closures and schedule changes, and prompting authorities in Paris to impose restrictions on public alcohol consumption in an effort to reduce heat-related emergencies.
The deadly conditions are part of a broader heatwave sweeping across Western and Central Europe. Spain has reported more than 300 estimated heat-related deaths since late June, while Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria have all recorded unusually high temperatures, with several countries issuing their highest-level heat alerts.
Scientists say the unusually early and intense heatwave has been fueled by a persistent heat dome drawing hot air northward from North Africa, with climate change increasing the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events.
