France's Hidden Heat Crisis: 33,000 Deaths a Year, Mostly Elderly

France records roughly 33,000 heat-related deaths annually—nearly three times the official count during declared heatwaves. Most victims are over 75, a population set to grow. The gap exists because official counts capture only peak heatwave events, missing the slower, steady toll of warm weather on vulnerable bodies. As France ages and temperatures rise, protecting the elderly becomes harder.