France deaths rose nearly 30% during peak of record-breaking Europe heatwave

France has reported 2,025 excess deaths linked to last month's record-breaking heatwave, as Europe continues to grapple with the aftermath of extreme temperatures that have triggered wildfires, floods and drought.French health minister Stephanie Rist on Friday told broadcaster TF1 that the number could still rise and there had been a particular increase in deaths among people older than 45 years old, reported Reuters.Nearly 3,000 people have also been evacuated in southwestern France after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu sounded the alarm over an early outbreak of wildfires following the record-breaking heat.Tourists and local residents were moved after a wildfire broke out in the town of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and spread to Canet-en-Roussillon on Thursday.

The fire, which started at a campsite, destroyed dozens of mobile homes before spreading to a marina area, where thick, toxic smoke blanketed boats.Temperature climbed above 40 degrees celsius in JuneIn June, France experienced a record-breaking heatwave lasting 11 days, with temperatures climbing above 40°C in many places.According to Reuters, last week’s unprecedented heatwave led to around 480 excess deaths in the Netherlands, Dutch health authorities said on Thursday.

Excess deaths in the week from June 22 to 28 were mainly among people aged 80 years and older, with most reported in the south and east of the country, where temperatures were highest. Record June temperatures of up to almost 40°C were set during the heatwave. Scientists have said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the most intense recorded in Europe.Spain and Italy sweltersSpain has faced successive heatwaves that caused more than 1,000 excess deaths in June.

In response, Barcelona has begun distributing heat-monitoring bracelets to outdoor workers as an early warning system for health risks.The city has rolled out around 1,400 bracelets to staff including street cleaners, lighting crews, park workers and waste management employees.Italy's northeastern Veneto region, which includes Venice, declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to drought, with rainfall from January to May more than a quarter lower than in the same period in 2025, according to AFP.Citing “abnormal hydrological and hydraulic conditions,” Veneto president Alberto Stefani called on local authorities to adopt “more sparing and sustainable use of water resources,” according to a statement on the region’s website. Italy was among the countries hit by the heatwave that swept the continent, smashing records.Extreme weather events across EuropeA powerful storm struck Romania’s Bucharest overnight into Wednesday, killing one person and causing flooding in 20 counties following an intense heatwave.The storm hit 60 localities, with emergency services pumping water from more than 350 houses and 100 streets, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU).Parts of Portugal, including the Lisbon region, will be placed on red alert after being relatively spared from Europe's worst heatwave, reported AFP.The IPMA weather agency said the Lisbon and Setubal regions will be on red alert for high temperatures on Thursday, extending Friday to the Leiria and Coimbra areas further north, where temperatures could reach 44°C in places.