Emmanuel Grégoire Warns of Rising Mortality in Paris Due to Heatwave

Paris – 25.06.2026: The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, warned on Thursday about an alarming increase in mortality in the French capital caused by the ongoing and exceptional heatwave. Although he did not provide exact numbers, he emphasized the urgency of the situation and made a heartfelt appeal to the public, especially young people, to exercise extreme caution.

Grégoire highlighted that all indicators such as emergency calls, fire department deployments, emergency room admissions, and deaths signal a serious situation. He pointed to the dangerous effects of hyperthermia, which can occur even in people aged 50 to 70, even if they feel healthy. The warning is therefore not only directed at the elderly but also at an age group that is often underestimated.

The current heatwave in France is historic and is being compared to the devastating 2003 heatwave. The weather service Météo France has issued the highest alert level for 80 of the country’s 100 departments, including Paris and its surrounding region. Meteorologists expect temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of France, affecting more than 40 million people, especially in the center and west of the country.

In view of the extreme temperatures, the Paris city administration responded quickly. Since June 19, all 550 public parks and gardens in the city have been open around the clock so that residents can find cooler refuge. Additionally, more than 1,200 air conditioners have been ordered for schools to allow school operations to continue despite the heat and to protect the health of students.

Mayor Grégoire emphasized the need for collective action to effectively address recurring extreme weather events. He called for pragmatic and immediately implementable measures to adapt Paris to the climate crisis and criticized long-term promises that do not bring quick improvements.

Parisian authorities continue to call on the public to avoid physical exertion outdoors and to make use of the cooling parks. Those particularly at risk are elderly people, individuals with chronic illnesses, and children.

This development underlines the urgency for cities worldwide to develop adaptation strategies to climate change in order to ensure the health and safety of their inhabitants. The situation in Paris exemplifies the challenges associated with rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves and highlights the importance of preventive measures today to be better prepared in the future.