PARIS, June 30 — France recorded at least 300 excess deaths during unusually early heatwaves in May that triggered amber alerts in 17 departments, said its Health Ministry.
On Tuesday, it said the toll was a preliminary estimate based on unconsolidated all-cause mortality data and mostly comprised people aged 75 and over.
A first wave hit six departments in north-western France from May 24 to May 28, leading to an estimated 95 excess deaths there.
A second wave hit western and central France between May 26 and May 30, leading to an estimated 300 excess deaths there, or about 14 per cent more than the expected number.
People aged 75 and over accounted for about 230 of the excess deaths.
French weather agency Meteo-France said May 26 was the hottest day in May ever recorded in the country, with a national average temperature of 24.9°C.
