According to France’s national health service, heat killed 5,167 people last summer, accounting for three out of every 100 deaths. Of the fatalities, almost 3,700 were above the age of 75
The excessive heat has strained healthcare services, affecting the elderly, babies, and children.
In comparison, approximately 7,000 deaths were attributed to heat in 2022, while the coronavirus pandemic may have also had a part.
Following the catastrophic summer of 2003, when an estimated 15,000 people perished, the nation implemented rigorous heatwave restrictions.
France is hosting the Olympic Games in Paris from July 26 to August 11, and experts think a hot summer might cause problems for organizers.
Scientists have warned that climate change poses an existential threat to life on Earth, citing catastrophic weather occurrences that are more severe than before.
