France's record heatwave has overwhelmed Paris mortuaries and funeral services, leaving families in distress. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Public Health France reported more than 1,200 deaths last Wednesday, when France registered its hottest-ever day. Deaths then increased to more than 1,400 on Thursday and another 1,400 on Friday. The agency cautioned that its estimate of at least 1,000 additional deaths during those three hot days alone is expected to increase as more death certificates are registered.
Véronique Bertrand, a funeral director in Paris, worked the phones Sunday, June 28, at her office, confirming the strain. Zouhaeir Hertelli, a mortuary and funeral service director near Paris' Orly airport, was photographed walking out of his coffin storeroom, illustrating the overwhelmed mortuaries.
During the heatwave, people sought relief at the Trocadero fountain and Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. The national weather service, Météo France, placed 54 departments, about half the country, under a red heatwave alert.
The agency noted that the rising death toll reflects the severity of the heat. Funeral services and mortuaries are struggling to cope with the additional load, leaving families in distress. This highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change in Europe.