France: Record heatwaves caused death of over 1,400 people

Record heatwaves in June and July caused the deaths of 1,435 people in France this year, according to the country’s health minister Agnès Buzyn.

Speaking on French radio, Buzyn said half of those who died were aged over 75.

She added that only thanks to preventative measures, the rate was 10 times lower than the same period in 2003 when a deadly heatwave hit Europe.

France recorded its highest-ever temperature of 46C in June. The capital, Paris, also saw a record high temperature of 42.6C  in July.

According to the Ministry of Health, 567 people died during France’s first heatwave this year, from 24 June to 7 July. A further 868 died during the second from 21 to 27 July.

Half of the people killed this summer were elderly people over the age of 75, while 10 people died at work, she explained, adding that they worked in building, catering and farming.

She said the French society must strengthen efforts to reorganise itself to adapt to climate change “because these hot weather events will be renewed and probably intensify in the coming years.”

Via BBC / Euronews 

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