French health officials report around 1,000 excess deaths during a record-breaking heatwave affecting western Europe for several days. Public Health France says the figure is based on deaths observed compared with expected deaths and refers to an increase of approximately 1,000 additional deaths since June 24, with the data described as preliminary and possibly an underestimate. Several outlets cite that areas placed under “red alert” for heat are particularly hard hit. Across the reports, most of the deaths are attributed to older people: Public Health France states that 85% of the recorded excess deaths involve people aged 65 and over. News coverage also notes that parts of France experienced temperatures above 40°C, contributing to pressure on hospitals and emergency services, including increased callouts. Other countries in Europe are also reported to face similar extreme conditions, with Germany described as potentially approaching another record-breaking day. The reports consistently frame the numbers as excess mortality linked to the heatwave and emphasize that the totals may change as more consolidated data become available.