The consequences of the heatwave are placing a strain on funeral companies in Paris

Paris – 23 July 2026: Several weeks after extreme temperatures in France, funeral companies are still under considerable pressure. Parisian entrepreneur Gauthier Caton told Franceinfo that farewell halls remain occupied and families need rapid organisational support. Contrary to expectations, the workload did not decrease in mid-July. Coordinating the transport of the deceased, appointments and available premises remains particularly challenging.

The background was an exceptionally severe heatwave, whose health consequences are now becoming more apparent. On 22 July, Santé publique France published an initial national assessment: during the heatwave from 17 June to 2 July, at least 5,764 more deaths than statistically expected were recorded in the affected departments. This corresponds to an increase of 36 percent compared with the expected level.

This figure reflects excess mortality from all causes and does not indicate a medically confirmed direct cause of death due to heat. The health authority also stresses that the data have not yet been fully consolidated. At the same time, they demonstrate the scale of the burden on hospitals, care facilities, civil registry offices and the funeral industry. A final analysis for the summer is expected only after the end of the monitoring season.

According to Santé publique France, the Île-de-France region was particularly heavily affected. During the first major heatwave, an estimated 1,999 additional deaths occurred there, 81.2 percent above the expected figure. Nationwide, around two thirds of the additional deaths involved people aged 75 and over. At the same time, increased mortality was recorded in all age groups from 15 years onwards.

Meteo-France described the period from 17 to 30 June as early, prolonged and exceptionally intense. Nationwide peak temperatures on 24 and 25 June reached an average daily temperature of 30 degrees Celsius for the first time. In Paris, temperatures of up to 40.1 degrees were recorded during the first heatwave. Another heatwave struck the Île-de-France region in July before official warning levels were lifted on 17 July.

For funeral companies, delays in processing deaths mean that the effects of the heat remain noticeable even after the extreme temperatures have ended. As a result, families may face longer waits for farewells, transport of the deceased or burial. The latest data also underline that heat-related crises can overwhelm not only the healthcare system but also associated municipal and economic services.