Europe’s record heat has overwhelmed Paris mortuaries and left families in distress

As Europe endures record-breaking heat, funeral homes are receiving an overwhelming number of calls. Every few minutes, the phone rings with news of another death and another grieving family asking the funeral director, “Do you have room for one more?”

A funeral director in Paris, France, recently described the heartbreaking reality:

“We’re facing a really catastrophic situation. I’m getting hundreds of calls. We’re dealing with an enormous spike in deaths because of the heat wave, and we’re really full, full, full.”

The number of daily deaths has risen dramatically, with more than 1,400 deaths reported on Thursday and another 1,400 on Friday. By comparison, before the heat wave, the daily death rate in April and May averaged between 900 and 1,000.

According to early data, approximately 85% of the deaths recorded during the three-day period involved people aged 65 and older. There has also been a sharp increase in deaths occurring at home—up by about 40%—particularly in the Paris region.

Paris is famously known as La Ville Lumière—”The City of Light.” Today, that light feels dimmed as families across France and Europe mourn loved ones lost during this extreme heat.