Intense summer heat killed nearly 1,500 people in France

Philippe LOPEZ / AFP

An intense heatwave that swept across parts of France earlier this year has killed nearly 1,500 people.

That's the word from the French health minister Agnès Buzyn who said half of those who died were aged over 75.

"The 2003 heatwave lasted 20 days. We had 18 days in two waves and we managed to cut mortality by a factor of 10 thanks to preventative measures," he told France Info and France Inter radio stations.

The highest temperature was 46 degrees Celsius on June 28 at Verargues.