France records excess mortality during its record-breaking June heatwave, with the public health agency reporting around 5,700 more deaths than expected. Multiple outlets cite figures of 5,700 to 5,764 excess deaths, describing the toll as the highest since 2003 and among the most severe heat events on record. The excess-death estimates cover deaths above the number normally expected for the period, and health authorities characterize the increase as “unprecedented.” Some reporting specifies that excess mortality reaches about 36% more deaths than the usual baseline. Coverage also highlights the impact of the Paris region, where the number of deaths reported above expectation rises sharply during the heatwave, with at least 1,565 additional deaths over a one-week period in June in one regional breakdown. Several sources note that older people are disproportionately affected, with people over 65 accounting for more than 80% of fatalities in the Paris region reporting. While initial totals are described as subject to later updates, all accounts agree the heatwave leads to a large, measurable increase in deaths compared with normal rates.