France has said it recorded an increase of more than 2,000 deaths during the last week of a record-breaking European heatwave in June as forecasters warn of further extreme temperatures on the continent in the next few days.
Deaths rose 29% in the last week of June compared to the week before, with French health minister Stéphanie Rist adding there had been a “clear increase” in deaths among those over 45.
France saw its hottest day ever on average country-wide on 24 June, with temperatures hitting almost 41C in Paris and half the nation placed under a red heat alert.
News of the death toll comes with parts of Europe, including the UK, braced for more searing temperatures from this weekend.
BBC Weather says a large area of high pressure is currently building from the Azores towards Portugal and Spain and that by the weekend, heat is forecast to climb across France and southern Britain.
