Heatwave Causes Over 100 Deaths in Paris and Strains Emergency Services Across Europe

French ambulance services reported 109 deaths in Paris within 24 hours due to an intense heatwave, compared to the usual seven deaths during this period. Temperatures in the capital approached 40 degrees Celsius, placing unprecedented pressure on emergency services, which received around 3,400 calls and responded to 30 cases of cardiac arrest. One patient was recorded with a severe fever of 43.7 degrees Celsius. Since the heatwave began, France has also seen 55 drowning incidents. Ambulance centers in Paris and its suburbs experienced an 80% increase in call volume over the past week. Public hospitals described emergency room attendance on Friday as "exceptional," with a 36% rise compared to a normal day and an 8% increase from the previous day.

The heatwave also heavily impacted the United Kingdom, where London Ambulance Service reported its busiest day ever, receiving 8,869 emergency calls, surpassing the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency teams handled 688 critical cases, including cardiac and respiratory arrests, and briefly declared a "major incident" due to overwhelming demand. The heatwave set unprecedented June temperature records, breaking highs three times in three days with temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius.

Elsewhere in Europe, the heatwave has caused 327 deaths in Spain. Germany's environmental agency urged cities to implement immediate measures to mitigate the heatwave's effects. The ongoing extreme temperatures have created a severe public health crisis across multiple European countries, with emergency services stretched to their limits and mortality rates rising sharply.