In France doctors fear sharp rise in mortality due to heat

French medical workers express serious concerns about a possible increase in mortality amid prolonged abnormal heat.

This was reported by the general delegate of the Federation of Hospitals of France (FHF), Zeynab Rie.

"We fear that, given the duration of the heat and conditions in homes and institutions, people's health will significantly deteriorate," she said on the radio station France Inter. "We really fear that we will most likely face excess mortality." Rie added that people are calling emergency services more often.

Abnormal heat has been observed in France since June 17. In connection with this, the work of or schedules at nearly 10,000 educational institutions have been suspended or changed, and rail transport has been restricted. At least five people have died due to the abnormal heat, and at least 42 more have drowned in bodies of water, which is also linked to the consequences of the hot weather.

The newspaper Le Parisien, citing data from the National Agency for Temperature Measurements, reported that June 24 became the hottest day in the history of meteorological observations in France. The average temperature across the entire republic that day was 30 degrees. In more than 50 departments, according to data from the national weather service Météo-France, the reading reached 40 degrees.