The Hautes-Pyrénées department in southern France recorded one of the sharpest rises in excess deaths in the Occitanie region following heatwaves in June and July 2026, according to early estimates from Santé publique France.
Excess mortality in the department is estimated at between 25% and 50% for the period, figures not seen nationally since the 2003 heatwave. Across France, excess mortality between June 17 and July 2 is estimated at at least 5,764 deaths, most likely a direct result of the heatwaves that hit the country during that time.
All age groups were affected, though people over 75 remained the main victims, accounting for two thirds of the excess deaths recorded over the period.
Hautes-Pyrénées among hardest hit
Occitanie as a whole was less affected than other mainland French regions, having experienced slightly less extreme heat in late June and early July. But within the region, the Hautes-Pyrénées stood out, with Santé publique France estimating excess mortality there at between 25% and 50%.
That figure is far higher than in neighboring departments. Haute-Garonne recorded no excess mortality, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques saw a rise of between 0% and 10%, and the Gers recorded an estimated increase of between 10% and 25%. Within Occitanie, only the Lot department recorded excess mortality similar to that of the Hautes-Pyrénées.
Full summer toll due in September
Across France, deaths were concentrated particularly on June 25 to 27, the hottest days of the period, with deaths at home especially pronounced nationally.
Contacted by the newspaper, the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Occitanie did not provide details on the reasons behind the early trends in the department. The agency noted that the figures, based on initial data from INSEE and Santé publique France, needed to be interpreted with caution because the data had not yet been consolidated, adding that a more robust analysis would be produced by Santé publique France after the summer.
How to cope with the heat
The early estimates come as France recorded its hottest July on record, with a new heatwave now moving into the department. The ARS reiterated its guidance for coping with prolonged heat: drink water, protect against the sun, avoid physical exertion, and stay alert for signs of distress in oneself and others, since every age group is at risk.
