French health officials said around 1,000 more deaths than expected were recorded during the record heatwave that has gripped much of Western Europe for several days, according to Le Monde and AFP.
"Since June 24, around 1,000 additional deaths (provisional figures) have been recorded compared to the number of deaths recorded in previous months," Public Health France said in a statement on June 28.
The agency said that areas where a red heat alert was declared were particularly hard hit, with 85% of the deaths occurring in people aged 65 and over.
According to the agency, the sharpest increase in deaths was among people who died at home, especially in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs.
"This observation reminds us of the need to take solidarity measures for people who are isolated or feel deeply lonely, including in areas with a high level of urbanization," the statement said.
The agency stressed that these figures are preliminary and likely underestimates.
It said that the heat in France eased slightly on Sunday, June 28, after several days of sweltering temperatures, when the thermometer rose above 40°C in many areas.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, back in May, Europe faced one of the most intense heat waves in recent decades. Several countries set historic temperature records, and at least seven people died in France due to extreme heat.Heat. Photo: depositphotos
And in June, extreme temperatures did not leave European countries behind. Most of Western Europe was gripped by intense heat this week, and the most difficult situation was predicted in France and Spain, where the air temperature will reach and even exceed +40 degrees.
Against the backdrop of temperature records, the head of the UN climate agency, Simon Still, said that the extreme heat in Western Europe was "a harsh reminder of the increasingly serious consequences of the climate crisis" and recalled the causes.
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