No excess mortality recorded in the Rhône during the August heatwave

Illustration of a heatwave in Lyon.

Unlike the June heatwave, the heatwave from August 8 to 19 did not cause excess mortality in the Rhône department.

The Rhône region has experienced a challenging summer this year. With a maximum temperature peaking at 39.6 degrees Celsius in August and two weeks of intense heat, the red alert was even activated from August 14 to 16. However, at the time of the provisional report from Santé Publique France (SPF) published on Thursday, September 11, the Rhône region appears to be one of the departments least affected by excess mortality.

Indeed, while France recorded 280 (+4.7%) excess deaths from all causes during this heatwave, the Rhône department recorded no excess mortality. The same pattern was observed throughout the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, despite having been hit hard by the heatwave.

France heatwave mortality — ^{Map from the assessment drawn up by SPF. Credit: Santé Publique France}

As a reminder, the report drawn up by SPF after the first heatwave in June recorded 480 excess deaths. The Rhône region was then affected in a range of 0 to 10%.

"The final estimate of excess consolidated mortality will be presented in the summer report produced after the surveillance period," this fall, specifies Santé Publique France.

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