France heatwave triggers excess deaths and water restrictions

France heatwave excess deaths water restrictions Tunisia heatwave climate‑related wildfires

France experienced an unprecedented heatwave in June‑July 2026. Public health data show an excess of 5,764 deaths – a 25 % rise compared with the same period in 2025 – with 28,271 deaths recorded between 17 and 30 June. The surge coincided with record temperatures, including 41 °C in Cogolin, and led to orange‑level heat‑wave vigilance in 21 departments. By mid‑July, 95 of the 96 French departments were placed under water‑use restrictions, and three nuclear reactors were shut down because of heat‑related drought conditions.

The extreme heat also affected neighbouring regions. Tunisia is forecast to see temperatures of 42‑44 °C in Kairouan and the southwest, prompting concerns over electricity load‑shedding as demand spikes. Morocco’s August 1st forecast predicts daytime highs of 36‑40 °C across several regions. In Spain and southwestern France, scientists say climate change has made fire‑prone conditions twice as likely in France and twenty times more likely in central Spain, raising the risk of large wildfires.

Authorities such as Santé Publique France, INSEE, the French agency Ademe and Tunisia’s STEG are monitoring the situation and urging adaptation measures to mitigate health impacts and protect water and energy supplies.

Entities: ADEME · Amer Bahba · Cogolin · France · Grenoble · INSEE · Météo‑France · STEG · Santé publique France · Tunisia · Var

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Morocco's forecast for 1 August includes daytime highs of 36‑40 °C across several regions. (Moroccan meteorological service)
[● 2 SOURCES] Temperatures in France reached up to 41 °C in Cogolin and 38‑40 °C in other south‑east locations. (d15a660f-f29a-46f7-8127-185a0f299eb3, 2be0d0de-96a0-4752-a71e-b47f9802d88d)
[○ 1 SOURCE] 95 of France's 96 departments are under water‑use restrictions due to severe drought. (French authorities)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tunisia expects temperatures of 42‑44 °C in Kairouan and the southwest early next week. (0a0033b8-003f-4f75-9260-9b5b2a1370e1)
[○ 1 SOURCE] France's Ademe released an interactive map listing over 42,000 public climate‑refuge sites. (898bab39-e46a-4538-98eb-65a0cfbebccd)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Three French nuclear reactors were shut down because of heat‑related drought conditions. (French nuclear operator)
[○ 1 SOURCE] France upgraded its heat‑wave alert to orange vigilance for 21 departments. (Météo‑France)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tunisia has experienced electricity load‑shedding due to high demand from heat‑wave conditions. (STEG (Tunisian electricity company))
[○ 1 SOURCE] Human‑caused climate change has made fire‑prone conditions in southwestern France twice as likely and in central Spain twenty times more likely. (World Weather Attribution study)
[● 3 SOURCES] France recorded 5,764 excess deaths during the June heatwave, a 25 % increase over the same period in 2025. (INSEE, Santé Publique France)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tunisia expects temperatures of 42‑44 °C in Kairouan and the southwest during the upcoming heatwave. (Climatologist Amer Bahba)