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Historic European Heatwave Claims Over 1,300 Lives

29/06/2026 04:10 - Internacionales

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France Declares Health Emergency

The health agency Public Health France confirmed this Sunday that approximately 1,000 people have died in the country as a consequence of the intense heatwave affecting Europe. "Since June 24, approximately 1,000 additional deaths have been observed compared to fatalities recorded in previous months," the organization stated in an official communiqué.

The report reveals that 85% of the victims were 65 years or older, highlighting the vulnerability of elderly adults to extreme temperatures. The most affected areas were those under red alert: Île-de-France (the Paris metropolitan area), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire.

Record-Breaking Temperatures in France

Wednesday 25/06: Hottest day in French history
National average temperature: 30°C for 24 hours
Pissos: 44.3°C (absolute record)
Paris: 40°C (104°F)
More than 30 departments: Under maximum red alert

Records Across Other Nations

United Kingdom: 37.3°C in Santon Downham (historic June record)
Germany: Exceeded 40°C in several zones
Berlin: 39.9°C
London: Near 40°C
Spain: More than 320 heat-related deaths

Exceptional Measures Adopted in Paris

French authorities implemented unprecedented actions to protect the population:

Restrictions Implemented

Alcohol prohibition in public spaces during the weekend
Pride March postponed for the first time ever
Eiffel Tower closed earlier than usual
Louvre Museum modified its operating hours

Impact Statistics

150 million people under extreme heat in Europe
1,300+ deaths since June 21
641 vital emergencies in London alone (record)
100 million people experiencing temperatures above 35°C

Why This Heatwave Is Historic

According to the World Weather Attribution report, this is the most intense heatwave ever recorded in Western Europe. Scientists explain that:

Europe is warming at a rate of 0.56°C per decade, twice the global average
In 2003, this same heatwave would have been 2°C cooler
In 1976, it would have been 3.5°C cooler
Warm nights are now 100 times more likely than in 2003
Nearly half of the 854 European cities surpassed their historical thermal stress records

2024 was the hottest year in recorded history, and the World Health Organization warns that European infrastructure was not built to withstand these temperatures, calling for urgent coordinated action plans.