Hottest June on record in France as heatwave deaths rise to alarming levels

Lead

France has experienced its hottest June since records began in 1947, as a severe heatwave pushed temperatures above 40°C in many areas, according to its national weather service. The extreme heat has been linked to a rise in deaths and has prompted emergency measures across the country.

The average temperatures on June 24 and 25 were the highest ever recorded in France, all months combined, said Meteo-France. The agency described the heatwave, which lasted from June 17 to June 30, as an "unprecedented" event, affecting more than a third of the country.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from two international outlets show the heatwave's impact extended beyond France. Al Jazeera focused on the national record and the death toll, while Deutsche Welle highlighted the broader European context and the response from officials and institutions.

Al Jazeera reported that Public Health France, the country's public health authority, recorded 8,973 deaths from June 22 to June 28, and noted that hospitals were overwhelmed with patients suffering from heat exposure. The outlet also cited Meteo-France data showing that temperatures exceeded 40°C over more than 40 percent of the country during the heatwave.

Deutsche Welle, meanwhile, focused on the European scale of the heatwave. The outlet reported that dozens of UK schools closed due to the heat and that Italy declared a heat red alert in 15 cities. It also quoted United Nations chief Antonio Guterres as saying London "is cooking," and the Red Cross as calling the heatwave "a matter of life and death" for the elderly.

Key Claims

• Hottest June on Record: France's national weather service, Meteo-France, said June was the hottest since record-keeping began in 1947. The average temperature for the month was 22.7°C, which is 3.8°C above the seasonal norms for 1991 to 2020, as reported by Al Jazeera.

• Record-Breaking Days: The average temperatures on June 24 and 25 were the highest ever recorded in France, all months combined, according to Al Jazeera. Meteo-France also reported that Tuesday was the hottest day ever recorded since 1947, with an average of 29.8°C across 30 stations, as reported by Deutsche Welle. The previous record of 29.4°C dated back to heatwaves in August 2003 and July 2019, according to the same outlet.

• Rising Death Toll: Public Health France reported that deaths surged by 29 percent during the hottest week last month, with at least 2,000 more deaths reported than the previous week, as reported by Al Jazeera. The authority also recorded 8,973 deaths from June 22 to June 28.

• Impact on Hospitals: Hospitals were overwhelmed with patients suffering from heat exposure, as reported by Al Jazeera.

• European Heatwave: The heatwave also affected other parts of Europe. Deutsche Welle reported that dozens of UK schools closed due to the heat, and Italy declared a heat red alert in 15 cities.

• Quotes from Officials: Deutsche Welle reported that the Red Cross called the heatwave "a matter of life and death" for the elderly, and that UN chief Antonio Guterres said London "is cooking."

• Louvre Museum Adjusts Hours: Due to extreme heat in Paris, the Louvre Museum reduced its operating hours, closing two hours early, and warned that some galleries may be closed to protect artworks, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

• Weather Alerts: Meteo-France said that 54 departments were under a red heatwave alert, calling it "another unprecedented situation," as reported by Deutsche Welle.