FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
France has recorded around 1,000 more deaths than usual since June 24, a rise that health authorities attribute to the record heatwave that has gripped the country in recent days.
The French National Agency for Public Health announced that, compared to previous months, there has been a significant increase in the number of deaths, especially in regions that have been under maximum alert for extreme temperatures.
According to preliminary data, 85% of the victims are people aged 65 and over, however, authorities emphasize that the toll could increase, as the current figures are not yet final.
This week, temperatures in many areas of France have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. More than 30 departments were placed under red alert, while Wednesday was recorded as the hottest day, with the national average temperature reaching 30 degrees Celsius.
Although most of the territory is no longer under maximum alert, authorities have taken measures to limit public activities. Several major events, including the Pride festival and the Solidays music festival, have been postponed or canceled, with the aim of avoiding an overload of hospitals, especially in the Paris region.
In the French capital, authorities banned the consumption of alcohol in public places over the weekend to ease pressure on emergency services. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum closed their doors early due to high temperatures.
The heatwave has also become a political issue as France approaches next year's presidential election. The temporary closure of some schools and problems with public transport have raised questions about the country's preparedness to deal with extreme weather events.
Meanwhile, record temperatures have also swept across the rest of Europe. In Germany and Spain, the thermometer has exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, while in Spain hundreds of deaths have been reported as a result of the heat.
The United Kingdom also recorded its hottest day of June, with temperatures reaching 37.3 degrees Celsius in the village of Senton Downham, Suffolk. New temperature records were also set in Denmark and the Czech Republic.
The World Health Organization has warned that around 150 million people in Europe are facing the consequences of this heatwave, stressing that extreme temperatures will have an impact not only on human health, but also on ecosystems.
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