PARIS, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Preliminary surveillance data showed that 2,025 excess all-cause deaths were recorded in France during the heatwave from June 22 to 28, representing a 29.1 percent increase from the previous week, the country's public health agency said on Friday.

A nurse prepares a bed at the emergency department of the Paris-Saclay Hospital, outside Paris, Tuesday June 30, 2026. (Photo: AP)

The data, based on electronic death certificates, currently cover about 60 percent of national mortality, which means that the actual death toll could be higher than these preliminary figures.

By age group, the increase in deaths was concentrated among people aged 45 and over, with 2,001 additional deaths recorded compared with the previous week, up 29.7 percent. By place of death, the sharpest increase was recorded at home, where deaths rose 91 percent, compared with increases of 37 percent in nursing homes and 19.7 percent in healthcare facilities.

Between June 22 and 28, France experienced one of its most intense heatwaves in nearly 80 years. According to Meteo-France, the national thermal indicator reached 30 degrees Celsius over a 24-hour period on June 24.