A surge in fatalities is overwhelming mortuaries across France following scorching temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius during a recent heatwave. Funeral homes in Paris and beyond are struggling to accommodate the influx of bodies, with phones ringing incessantly. Zouhaeir Hertelli, facing a full cold room with no vacancies, is forced to turn away numerous calls, a situation he describes as “catastrophic.”
As the extreme heat wave, which shattered previous records, moved eastward over the weekend, France began to assess the devastating impact. The process of documenting heat-related deaths is anticipated to be lengthy, but the grim reality of the toll is already evident, especially among the elderly who passed away in their homes.
Hertelli expressed concern over the significant increase in deaths attributed to the heatwave, noting a substantial rise in mortality rates during the hottest days. The official death toll climbed to over 1,400 on consecutive days, surpassing the usual rates recorded prior to the heatwave.
Public Health France highlighted that a significant portion of the deaths were individuals aged 65 and above, with a notable spike in deaths at home, particularly in the Paris region. The agency expects the death toll to rise further as more death certificates are processed, especially for those who passed away in care facilities where data is not electronically recorded.
Paris authorities have established additional temporary storage units to handle the overflow of bodies, acknowledging the strain on mortuaries. Funeral directors, including Veronique Bertrand, emphasized the need for increased community support and vigilance, urging people to check on vulnerable individuals during extreme weather conditions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.