local
Europe's record heat has overwhelmed Paris mortuaries and left families in distress
By John Leicester And Jeffrey Schaeffer, Associated Press at KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston)
· June 29, 2026
· 4 min read
Every few minutes, the mortuary owner's phone rings. Since a record-smashing heat wave started taking lives and storage space for bodies in Paris and beyond, the funeral directors and mourning families calling him mostly have the same question: Do you have room for one more? With all 32 places in...
Key takeaway With all 32 places in his cold room taken, Zouhaeir Hertelli reluctantly has to gently say “Non,” over and over and over again.
Why this matters in Sugar Land News
The devastating impact of Europe's record heat wave on Paris mortuaries and families serves as a stark reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in our own community. As Sugar Land residents, we can learn from the catastrophic situation unfolding in France, where funeral directors are struggling to cope with the surge in heat-related deaths. With our own city's aging population and sweltering summers, it's crucial that local authorities and healthcare providers are equipped to handle similar emergencies. The Fort Bend County public health department and emergency management officials should take note of the challenges faced by their French counterparts and review our own protocols for responding to extreme heat events. By doing so, we can better protect our vulnerable populations, such as seniors, and ensure that our mortuaries and healthcare facilities are prepared to handle the potential consequences of severe weather.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston) . Sugar Land News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Every few minutes, the mortuary owner's phone rings. Since a record-smashing heat wave started taking lives and storage space for bodies in Paris and beyond, the funeral directors and mourning families calling him mostly have the same question: Do you have room for one more? With all 32 places in...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston) and curated for Sugar Land News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Leicester And Jeffrey Schaeffer, Associated Press at KPRC 2 Houston (NBC / Click2Houston). To learn more about how Sugar Land News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Sugar Land News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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