Key Points

• The second heat wave of the summer occurred from July 17 to 26, 2023, and affected 10 departments in the Southeast.

• Nationally, no excess mortality was observed during this episode. At least 30 excess deaths were observed in Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur. This initial estimate, compiled less than three weeks after the end of the episode, is based on incomplete mortality data (data as of August 16). Due to the long weekend of August 15 and the closure of civil registry offices, it is possible that the estimates provided in this report are underestimated.

• No fatal workplace accidents were reported by the General Directorate of Labor to Santé publique France for the departments and periods affected by the observed heatwave.

• This estimate does not reflect the full impact of heat on health: it does not account for the impact of heat outside of heat waves, nor does it account for impacts on morbidity.

• Heat is a health risk, even outside heatwave periods, requiring the implementation of management and prevention measures to reduce the impact of heat on the population.