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Deaths surged 29% in France during week of record heat, health agency says
Public Health France said the toll was probably an underestimate as the Paris region saw a 62% rise in deaths.
On Friday, Public Health France reported 2,025 additional deaths during the week of June 22, representing a 29.1 percent increase compared to the prior week. The authority noted the figure is likely "an underestimate".
France endured an 11-day heatwave in June with temperatures climbing above 40C in many locations. The country remained under heat alerts on Wednesday after recording its hottest day since records began.
In the Paris region, mortality increased by 62 percent during the week starting June 22. Officials compared the toll to the 15,000 deaths recorded during the 2003 severe heatwave.
The Greens filed a no-confidence motion against the government of Sebastien Lecornu on Thursday. Some French politicians have denounced what they describe as the authorities' inadequate measures to help France.
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told media on Friday the toll is "nowhere near complete". She expects the final count to be higher than an episode last year that claimed 5,700 lives.
France says more than 2,000 excess deaths were recorded during record-breaking heatwaves in June. The country's public health agency says the number of heat-related deaths in the country has increased by almost 30 percent.