Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - France has recorded around 1,000 excess deaths during Europe’s brutal heatwave, with public health officials warning that the figure is likely to rise as more data comes in. Across the continent, the overall toll linked to the extreme temperatures has crossed 1,300, as hospitals, emergency crews and local authorities struggle to cope.

Public Health France said most of the fatalities involved people aged 65 and above, with the sharpest rise in deaths seen in areas under red heat alerts such as Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy and Pays de la Loire. The agency said the excess deaths were recorded in just a few days after temperatures surged, pushing daily deaths well above normal levels and overwhelming parts of the health system. It also cautioned that the current total is still preliminary because deaths reported through digital certificates do not capture all fatalities, especially those occurring at home.

The heatwave has also hit much of Europe, with temperatures topping 40C in several countries and prompting school closures, early museum shutdowns and emergency warnings. AFP estimates cited in reports suggest about 191 million people in Europe could experience temperatures of at least 35C, while other countries such as Spain and the UK have also seen heat-linked deaths, soaring ambulance calls and hospital pressure. In France, emergency rooms reported a fourfold increase in heat-related visits, and officials warned the health system was approaching saturation as cardiac arrests and hospitalizations climbed.

The latest figures show how fast extreme heat is becoming a public health emergency across Europe, not just a weather event. With temperatures still elevated and mortality data still incomplete, the death toll in France and across the continent may rise further in the coming days.