More than 5,700 excess deaths were recorded during France's unprecedented June heat wave, making it the country's deadliest since 2003, health officials said.

Public Health France said regions affected by the heat from June 17 to July 2 recorded 21,674 deaths from all causes. Based on statistical modelling using data from previous years, those same regions would have been expected to see 15,910 deaths without a heatwave.

France recorded 5,764 more deaths than usual during a record-breaking heatwave last month, health authorities have said, describing the excess mortality among people aged 15 and older as "unprecedented".

People aged 80 and over were hit particularly hard as temperatures hit as high as 40 deg C. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

People aged 80 and over were hit particularly hard as temperatures hit as high as 40 deg C. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.