France's Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, announced on September 4 that about 7,000 additional deaths were recorded by the end of July, linked to the country's summer heatwaves. These figures are part of an ongoing assessment of the impact of the extreme weather conditions that gripped France during the summer. The final data, which will provide a more precise count, is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Rist emphasized that the heatwaves had lasted for three months and that the extra deaths were mainly among people living in isolated areas and those who lived alone in large cities. Comparing France's situation to that of Germany, Rist stated that France is "clearly below" Germany in terms of additional deaths from the heat. While acknowledging that even one more death is too many, she noted that the French health system had managed to cope with the crisis. She also pointed out that improvements since the 2003 heatwave—when nearly 15,000 deaths were recorded—have helped reduce the impact of extreme heat. These improvements include better-trained professionals and the installation of cooling systems in nursing homes. However, Rist admitted that there are still areas for improvement in the country's response to heatwaves. Earlier, on July 22, Santé Publique France, the French public health agency, reported 5,764 excess deaths between June 17 and July 2. While this number did not directly attribute the deaths to the heatwave, it noted an increase in mortality from all causes across all age groups starting at 15 years old. This highlights the complex nature of determining the exact impact of extreme weather on public health. The data collected so far underscores the challenges posed by prolonged heatwaves and the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable populations. While France has made progress since the 2003 crisis, the recent figures show that the country still faces significant challenges in preventing heat-related deaths, especially among those most at risk.