France Heatwave Claims Thousands of Lives
The recent surge in the number of deaths in France occurred during a prolonged and intense heatwave that saw temperatures exceed 35C (95F) in many areas. While provisional, these figures are based on electronic death certificates, which currently account for only about 60% of all recorded deaths nationwide, with regional variations in coverage. Health authorities have cautioned that these numbers may underestimate the full impact of the heatwave, as the data remains incomplete.