local
Europe's record heat has overwhelmed Paris mortuaries and left families in distress
By John Leicester And Jeffrey Schaeffer, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio
· 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 Terrell Hills News
The devastating impact of Europe's record heat wave on Paris mortuaries is a stark reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in our own community. As Terrell Hills residents, we can draw parallels between the catastrophic situation in Paris and our own experiences with extreme weather events, such as the intense summer heat that often affects our area. The fact that the mortuary owner in Paris is receiving hundreds of calls and having to turn away families in distress highlights the need for adequate infrastructure and resources to handle emergency situations. In Terrell Hills, it is crucial that our local authorities and emergency services are equipped to respond to heat-related emergencies, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly. By learning from the experiences of other cities, we can take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and ensure that our community is better prepared to handle similar crises.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Terrell Hills 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 KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio ·
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 KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio and curated for Terrell Hills News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Leicester And Jeffrey Schaeffer, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio. To learn more about how Terrell Hills News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Terrell Hills News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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