Public Health France has reported approximately 1,000 additional deaths since Wednesday as the country endures an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in several regions and placing significant strain on emergency services and hospitals.

According to the agency’s statement released on Sunday, the excess mortality figures (still unconsolidated) represent deaths above the expected average for the period. The most severely affected areas are those placed under red heat alerts, including Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire. A staggering 85% of the additional deaths involved people aged 65 and over.

The country experienced its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with the national average 24-hour temperature reaching 30°C. Multiple departments remained under the highest-level red heat alert for much of the week, prompting widespread public health warnings.

In Paris, authorities took emergency measures to ease pressure on first responders. Drinking alcohol in public was banned over the weekend. The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum have also closed earlier than usual to protect visitors and staff from the extreme heat.

While residents flocked to parks and canals to cool down, officials issued repeated warnings about the dangers of unsupervised swimming. A man drowned in the Canal Saint-Martin on Friday night, prompting Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire to reiterate on X (formerly Twitter): “We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: swimming outside the times when supervised swimming is permitted, and outside the supervised areas, is dangerous.

”In a separate tragedy, 21-year-old Ligue 2 footballer Kenzo Kies died after reportedly drowning in the Rhône River. His club, En Avant Guingamp, expressed deep sadness in a statement, offering condolences to his family and loved ones.

The heatwave has affected much of Europe. The United Kingdom recorded its hottest June day on record on Friday, with Santon Downham in Suffolk reaching a provisional high of 37.3°C, according to the Met Office. Temperatures also exceeded 40°C in parts of Spain and Germany.

Health officials continue to urge vulnerable populations — particularly the elderly — to stay hydrated, remain indoors during peak heat hours, and check on relatives and neighbors. (ILKHA)