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Public Health France reported on Sunday that about 1,000 more deaths have occurred since June 24 compared to previous months. The agency said these numbers are early estimates and probably lower than the real total.
The hardest alert is under red alert for heat. The agency said that 85% of the deaths were people aged 65 and older, with the biggest increases among those who died at home, especially in the Ile-de-France region, which covers Paris and its suburbs.
Morgues in Paris reached full capacity as the number of deaths increased. Gautier Caton, a spokesperson for the National Funeral Services Federation, told BFMTV that both of the city's funeral homes were full.
'We might have been surprised earlier in the week, but since Thursday, things have gotten worse,' Caton said. He added that funeral homes around Paris are also very busy, and families are being told to take their loved ones to facilities farther away.
'At this stage, we have no other solution,' he said.
Caton also said that Paris, Lille, Ile-de-France, and Centre-Val de Loire are among the worst-affected regions. He explained that local officials might need to open additional buildings to store bodies or use refrigerated containers, similar to what was done during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told Le Parisien that 74 people have drowned in France since June 18, most of them between 15 and 25 years old. He said most of these deaths happened in rivers, streams, and ponds where swimming is not allowed and there is no supervision. Some of the drowning victims died from cardiac arrest.
Nunez said authorities had issued 14 bans on cultural activities and 64 bans on sporting activities since the start of the extreme heat.
Emergency health services said that 109 people died in Paris on Saturday alone from heat-related causes. This number only includes deaths that happened in homes and public places.
Public Health France emphasized the importance of community support, especially for people who live alone or are very isolated. The agency said, 'This observation serves as a reminder of the need for measures of solidarity toward people who are isolated or experiencing profound loneliness, including in highly urbanized areas.'
Temperatures in France started to drop on Sunday after several days when many areas saw highs above 40 degrees Celsius.
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