Record Heatwave Kills 1,000 in France, Roasts Europe

Around 1,000 excess deaths were recorded in France during a brutal heatwave that shattered all-time temperature records across western Europe, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 1,300 excess deaths continent-wide since June 21.

The extreme weather pushed hospitals and emergency services to their limits, with the Czech Republic registering a new national record of 41.1°C and an estimated 191 million people facing temperatures of at least 35°C on Sunday alone.

Scientists said the record-breaking heat and humidity would not have been possible without climate change, as the heatwave began shifting eastward.

In France, 85% of the additional deaths involved people aged 65 and above, while two young boys were found dead in a car that may have reached 70°C in Carpentras.