France Heatwave Kills 2,025 in a Week; No-Confidence Vote Ahead

The heat forced schools to close and trains to cancel. Some politicians said France has failed to implement measures to address rising temperatures. The Green party claimed the heatwave may have caused 10,000 deaths, a figure Lecornu rejected. His government now faces a no-confidence vote, possibly Monday.

Around 15,000 people died in a severe heatwave in 2003. The June heatwave is more intense. Authorities said its consequences are less severe. Health Minister Stephanie Rist said the toll would probably not compare with 2003. Nicolas Revel, head of the Paris public hospital system, expects the June death count to be higher than the 5,700 deaths in a heatwave last year.

Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths between June 18 and 29, 39% more than normal for that period, its health authorities reported Friday.

An unusually early heatwave in May had already pushed excess deaths above 300, health officials said.

Scientists said human-caused climate change was unequivocally responsible for the intensity of the late-June heatwave across Europe.

The no-confidence vote Monday will test whether France can accelerate heatwave preparedness. Health officials continue to tally the full toll.