Paris: French ambulance services reported that 109 people died in Paris over a 24-hour period during the ongoing heatwave, a dramatic increase compared to the average of just seven deaths typically recorded during the same period of the year.

Emergency officials said the figure includes deaths attended by ambulance teams in homes and on public roads but does not account for fatalities that occurred inside hospitals due to heat-related complications.

The French capital witnessed temperatures nearing 40°C, placing unprecedented strain on emergency responders. Ambulance services received around 3,400 emergency calls during the period, including 30 cases of cardiorespiratory arrest. Authorities also reported an extreme case involving a patient whose body temperature reached 43.7°C.

The impact of the heatwave has extended beyond the capital. According to Youth and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari, 55 drownings have been recorded across France since the onset of the extreme weather, underscoring the growing public safety risks.

Data from public hospitals in Paris showed ambulance centres in the city and surrounding suburbs recorded an 80 per cent surge in emergency calls over the past week. Hospital emergency departments also experienced exceptional demand on Friday, with patient admissions rising 36 per cent above normal levels and 8 per cent compared to the previous day.

Although forecasters expect temperatures to begin easing by Sunday evening, authorities have kept 35 French departments under the highest red-alert warning, while cautioning that thunderstorms could accompany the gradual end of the heatwave.