France has recorded around 1,000 excess deaths during Europe’s record-breaking heatwave, with officials warning the preliminary toll could rise as more data comes in.
The extreme weather has hit countries across the continent, with France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK all dealing with dangerous temperatures, strain on emergency services, and major disruption. Temperatures were forecast to reach 40C (104F) in parts of Europe on Sunday, June 28, as the heatwave moved deeper into Central Europe and the Balkans.
France has been one of the hardest-hit countries. Santé Publique France said more than 1,200 deaths were recorded on June 24, followed by more than 1,400 deaths per day on June 25 and June 26. For comparison, the country had been recording around 900 to 1,000 deaths per day in April and May.
France has reported around 1,000 deaths due to the heatwave. pic.twitter.com/VpBQ14fru3
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) June 28, 2026
France warns heatwave death toll could rise
The French health agency said around 1,000 additional deaths had been observed since June 24 compared to the previous months, though the figures are not yet consolidated.
The increase was more pronounced in regions under red heat alerts, including Ile-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire. Officials said 85% of the deaths involved people aged 65 and over, though the agency stressed that the increase affected all age groups.
Deaths also rose in hospitals, care homes, and private homes. Santé Publique France said deaths at home had increased particularly sharply, by around 40% since June 24, especially in Ile-de-France. The agency said the figure highlighted the danger faced by isolated people during extreme heat.
The heatwave has also been linked to other deadly incidents. At least 48 people drowned in France while trying to cool off, while two young children died from heat after being left in a car. Spain also reported two elderly people had died of heatstroke after several days of temperatures above 40C.
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The UK has set a new June temperature record after reaching 35.7°C (96.2°F)
It surpasses the previous record from 1976 of 35.6°C (96°F) pic.twitter.com/fNgWQAOOSF
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 24, 2026
The wider impact has stretched across Europe. In Germany, the Associated Press reported a new preliminary daytime temperature record of 41.5C (106.7F) in Möckern-Drewitz, shortly after a new nighttime record was reported in eastern Saxony.
The UK also broke its June temperature record during the heatwave, with Reuters reporting a provisional high of 36.7C (98.06F) in southwest England on June 25.
Scientists have said the record-breaking heat would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change. Their rapid study found that the event is now 200 times more likely than it would have been 20 years ago, while it’s reported that Europe is warming at twice the global average.
