Health authority:

Hot summer cost 5000 French people their lives

According to the health authorities, the hot summer in France cost more than 5,000 people their lives last year. Between June 1 and September 15, more than three percent of all deaths were related to the heat, the authorities announced in Paris on Thursday. During the four heatwaves last summer alone, there were around 1500 weather-related deaths.

More than ten percent of all deaths during these periods were heat-related. Three quarters of all heat-related deaths during the summer were aged 75 or over. Eleven fatal accidents at work were also linked to the heat.

Over 20,000 people required emergency medical treatment in France last summer due to high temperatures, and over 10,000 were admitted to hospital. This record confirms the need for prevention measures throughout the country and a reinforced climate change adaptation strategy to reduce the impact of the heat on French people's health, the authorities said. The city of Paris, for example, is working on concepts to counter expected peak temperatures of up to 50 degrees in the metropolis in 2050.