France records 2,025 deaths during late-June heatwave, health minister says

PARIS, France — French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said 2,025 people died during the country's most recent heatwave, which ran from June 22 to 28. Rist announced the figure in comments to the press, outlining the toll from the late-June period. France's public health agency, Santé Publique France, reported a 29.1% increase in deaths nationwide linked to the heatwave and warned that the actual number could be higher. The agency said temperatures exceeded 40°C in many regions during the 11-day heatwave in June, which it described as record-setting in scale. The World Meteorological Organization said last week that the unusual heat had placed heavy strain on human health, ecosystems, agriculture and infrastructure. Large-scale wildfires also broke out across France's extensive forested areas amid the extreme conditions. No further details on additional measures or follow-up assessments were immediately available.