At least 80 people died in a heat wave in France in July

At least 80 more deaths than normal were reported during several days of a heat wave that hit France in early July, according to the public health agency’s estimates released on Wednesday, August 1, the first estimate yet to be compiled.

“Relevant agencies estimated at least 80 excess deaths from all causes during this heat wave, 3.8%.“, – is summarized in the French public health press release.

A phenomenon whose frequency increases with global warming, a heat wave is defined as a period of prolonged heat without interruption for several days.

The hottest month in the history of the planet

From July 7th to 13th, the phenomenon hit about twenty French departments, one of many global manifestations of a month that was rated as the hottest in the history of the planet. These departments, which combine a fifth of the metropolitan population, are located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Corse, Grand-Est and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions.

Mortality data is not yet complete

France’s assessments of public health are still preliminary in several respects. They are based, for example, on mortality data that are not yet complete.

Above all, they do not accurately estimate deaths directly caused by heat waves. For now, they only allow us to indicate how much the total number of deaths exceeded the norm during this period.

At the end of the summer, the agency plans to release a report on excess mortality throughout the season, as well as preliminary estimates of deaths attributable solely to the heat.