The exceptional heatwave in France is apparently already claiming lives. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire stated in a television interview on Thursday morning that mortality in the capital is increasing and there are already victims. However, he did not provide specific numbers. The recording of heat-related deaths is the responsibility of the health authorities.
So far, there are no official figures on how many people have died in Paris as a result of the current heatwave. Instead, Grégoire referred to several concerning developments: the number of emergency calls to ambulance services has risen significantly, as have fire department deployments and admissions to hospital emergency rooms. At the same time, increased mortality is being recorded in the capital.
The mayor described the situation as “quite critical” and urged the population to exercise caution. In his assessment, not only the elderly are at risk. He especially warned people aged between 50 and 70 who continue their usual daily routines despite the extreme temperatures. Sporting activities during the hottest hours of the day could also bear considerable health risks.
The city of Paris has decided on a series of additional protective measures in view of the ongoing heat. Several hundred additional air conditioning units will be installed in schools; some classrooms will receive mobile misting systems for cooling. Almost all parks and green spaces will remain open around the clock so that the population can also use cooler places at night. Furthermore, working hours for various municipal employees, especially in waste collection, have been adjusted to avoid operations during the peak heat as much as possible.
France is currently experiencing one of the most severe heatwaves since the record summer of 2003. On Thursday, 72 départements were under the highest heat warning level. Temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius were expected in numerous regions, while tropical nights without significant cooling further exacerbate the strain.
The statements of the Paris mayor are primarily to be understood as a political and health warning. An official tally of heat-related deaths is not yet available. This is traditionally published only after the full mortality data has been analyzed by the health authorities. This includes deaths directly and indirectly attributable to the heat, which is why reliable figures are only available with a delay.
Author: P. Tiko