France reports heatwave toll as Europe hits 40C

A heatwave in Europe pushed temperatures to 40C in some areas as France reported 1,000 excess deaths and health authorities warned the toll could rise.

Conditions varied across the continent on June 28, with storms moving into some regions even as dangerous heat persisted elsewhere. Public agencies and international officials highlighted mounting pressure on health services and critical infrastructure.

France records excess deaths as officials warn toll may rise

France’s public health agency said the country has registered around 1,000 excess deaths during the current heatwave. The agency said the figure is provisional and may increase as more information is confirmed.

According to the agency, many of the deaths linked to extreme heat involved older people. Officials cautioned that reporting often lags for fatalities occurring in residential care settings and private homes, where cases can take longer to document.

The heatwave began on June 20 and has been described by scientists as the worst recorded in Europe. The sustained period of high temperatures has raised alarms about the capacity of public health systems to protect vulnerable populations.

Record heat meets storms as services face disruption

Across parts of Europe, peak temperatures reached about 40C (104F) on Sunday. At the same time, storms moved into other areas, underscoring how quickly conditions can shift during intense summer weather patterns.

Scientists and officials said the heat has already disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure and strained healthcare services. Energy systems can be affected when rivers and reservoirs warm, limiting cooling options for some facilities and reducing operating efficiency.

Transport and built infrastructure also become more vulnerable under prolonged heat, which can warp materials and accelerate wear. Health services face higher demand as heat-related illness increases, particularly among older adults and people with chronic conditions.

WHO frames heat as a climate-driven public health threat

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that roughly 150 million people were living under extreme heat, and that hundreds have died. He also cited impacts including school closures and electricity grids under stress.

Tedros linked the frequency of severe heat events to climate change and global warming, warning that what was once described as a “once-in-a-generation” heatwave is now occurring nearly every year. He said Europe’s buildings and public spaces are not adequately designed for prolonged extreme heat.

The comments add to long-running concerns that many European homes, workplaces and schools were built for milder summers, with limited cooling and heat-shielding features. As temperatures climb, gaps in preparedness can translate into health risks and economic disruption.

In the near term, authorities are expected to keep focusing on protecting high-risk groups, including older people and those in care facilities, while monitoring updated mortality data. Further assessments of infrastructure and grid performance during the heat could inform future resilience planning.