France has recorded more deaths than expected since Wednesday as searing temperatures gripped the country
"Since June 24, approximately 1,000 additional deaths (unconsolidated figures) have been observed compared to the deaths recorded in previous months," Public Health France said in a statement on Sunday.
France has recorded around 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday as searing temperatures gripped the country.
The most-affected areas include those that have been under a red heat alert, particularly Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire, the agency said, adding that 85% of the deaths involved people aged 65 or over.
At least 191 million people are forecast to endure temperatures of at least 35C on Sunday in Europe, with the heat particularly intense in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, according to AFP estimates.
Temperatures have soared across Europe in recent days
The United Kingdom recorded its hottest June day on record on Friday.
The Met Office, the UK's national weather and climate service, said provisional figures showed the village of Santon Downham in Suffolk hit 37.3°C.
On Saturday, June 27, a new historical temperature record of 41.5°C was recorded in Germany - the German Meteorological Service informs. The previous record of 41.3°C lasted less than a day.
In Poland, a record high for June was recorded on Saturday in Słubice, with thermometers reaching a whopping 38.9°C.
The latest models from the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management clearly indicate that temperatures could reach over 40°C on Sunday. At 10 a.m. local time, 36°C was recorded.
Health Impacts
Extreme heat is often called the “silent killer” and in many countries it is underreported. There were approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, according to the World Health Organization.
Heat stress occurs when the body gains more heat than it can release. Under normal conditions, the body manages its temperature through sweating and increased blood flow to the skin. But when the surrounding air is hot -especially when it is also humid- these cooling mechanisms struggle to keep up, and core body temperature begins to rise.
“Prolonged exposure over several days, particularly when temperatures remain high at night, means the body enters each new day already stressed. Older adults, young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers and people unhoused or living with chronic illness are among those most at risk, but heat stress can affect anyone when temperatures are extreme enough for long enough,” says Lachlan McIver, Health Advisor, WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Office.
It’s not just daytime temperatures, but also overnight minimum temperatures. A “tropical night” is a term widely adopted in some regions such as Europe and parts of Asia. It can be defined as a night where the temperature does not drop below 20°C (68°F). During heatwaves, these become increasingly common in cities.
Night time is when the body is supposed to recover. When we sleep, our core temperature drops, our cardiovascular system rests, and the cumulative stress of a hot day begins to ease. When nights stay warm, that recovery does not happen. The body remains under strain around the clock, explains Armel Castellan, Extreme Heat Services Technical Advisor of the WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Office.
“This is why, when assessing the health impact of a heatwave, minimum temperatures can be more telling than the peak afternoon high. A day that reaches 38°C but drops to 18°C overnight is very different from a day that reaches 36°C and stays above 25°C through the night. The second scenario carries a much higher health risk,” he says.
During a heatwave, the urban heat island effect adds several degrees to the felt-like temperature, amplifying already present risk.