France's 5,700 Heat Deaths Signal Strain on Two Decades of Canicule Preparedness

France recorded 5,700 heat-related deaths in summer 2026, with roughly one-third occurring during discrete heat wave periods. On June 24, the Ministry of Health issued an exceptional-intensity alert—the formal designation reserved for events with projected excess mortality. The toll underscores sustained pressure on public health systems despite sweeping reforms after the 2003 heat wave, which killed 15,000. Current infrastructure remains vulnerable to events of unusual geographic breadth and persistence.