France has reported an alarming increase of over 2,000 deaths during the last week of a record-breaking European heatwave in June, with the death toll climbing by 29% compared to the previous week. According to French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist, there was a "clear increase" in deaths among those aged 45 and above. The country experienced its hottest day ever on average nationwide on June 24, with temperatures reaching almost 41°C in Paris and half of the nation under a red heat alert. As Europe prepares for more searing temperatures, forecasters anticipate a large area of high pressure building from the Azores towards Portugal and Spain, potentially causing temperatures to rise across France and southern Britain by the weekend. Meanwhile, the July Fourth holiday weekend in the United States has already been affected by prolonged extreme heat and high humidity in parts of central and eastern regions. The rapid warming of Europe, which is heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service, has led to increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on water supplies, and more intense wildfires. This summer's record-breaking temperatures have already proven particularly deadly, with Belgium reporting 1,222 excess deaths during the heatwave – a 39% increase over usual levels, and nearly half of those being individuals aged 85 and over. In France, the number of deaths recorded between June 22 and 28 increased by 2,025 - nearly 30%, according to Public Health France agency. Drowning deaths soared during the heatwave, with 72 people reported dead by drowning since June 18. The Netherlands also experienced unprecedented heat last week, leading to about 480 excess deaths, mostly among those aged 80 and older. In response, Météo-France has issued red alerts for forest fires in the southern part of France, warning that weather conditions indicate a "very high" risk of an outbreak compared to summer norms. The Iberian Peninsula is also bracing for another heatwave, with Portugal declaring a state of alert and temperatures expected to exceed 40°C in some areas. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to stay updated on the latest climate and environment stories with BBC's Justin Rowlatt.