PARIS — Funeral homes and mortuaries in Paris are struggling to cope with a sharp rise in deaths linked to an unprecedented heat wave, with some facilities running out of space as families face delays in arranging services for their loved ones.
Mortuary owner Zouhaeir Hertelli said his facility has reached full capacity, leaving him unable to accept additional bodies as calls continue to come in from funeral directors and grieving families seeking storage space.
“We’re facing a really catastrophic situation,” Hertelli said, adding that he has received hundreds of requests during the extreme heat period.
France’s national public health agency, Public Health France, reported that deaths increased significantly during the peak of the heat wave last week, when temperatures across much of the country exceeded 40 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures reached record levels.
The agency recorded more than 1,200 deaths on the hottest day of the heat wave, followed by more than 1,400 deaths on each of the following two days. Public Health France estimated that at least 1,000 additional deaths occurred during those three days, but warned that the figure could rise as more death records are processed, particularly among people who died at home or in elder care facilities.
Officials said 85% of the deaths recorded during the three-day period involved people aged 65 and older. A notable increase in deaths at home, particularly in the Paris region, was also reported.
Paris authorities responded by creating additional temporary storage capacity for municipal mortuaries. Two temporary units with a combined capacity of 40 places were installed, while city hospitals provided an additional 50 spaces.
However, funeral industry workers said demand continued to exceed available capacity. Hertelli said some funeral directors had been forced to transport bodies to facilities outside the capital, including areas as far away as Chartres, about 80 kilometers from Paris.
He has requested permission to place refrigerated containers outside his mortuary near Paris Orly Airport to help address the shortage but was still awaiting approval.
“Families are suffering,” Hertelli said, explaining that funeral homes have limited options because of the overwhelming demand.
The heat wave has revived memories of Europe’s deadly 2003 heat crisis, when France recorded around 15,000 heat-related deaths, prompting major changes in how authorities protect vulnerable populations, particularly older people living alone.
Public Health France also attributed more than 5,700 deaths to heat exposure during an unusually hot summer last year, highlighting the growing health risks associated with rising temperatures.
Paris funeral director Véronique Bertrand warned that many of the current victims were elderly people who lived alone and may have lacked support during the extreme temperatures.
She called for renewed community awareness, saying neighbors and families should regularly check on vulnerable people, especially during severe weather events.
The latest heat wave has affected large parts of Europe, with authorities warning that rising temperatures linked to climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. Health officials continue to urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to heat, and monitor elderly or vulnerable individuals during periods of extreme temperatures.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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