PARIS — France placed much of the country on red alert Tuesday as an extreme heatwave gripped large parts of the nation, with temperatures soaring to record levels for June, authorities said.
Météo-France, the national weather service, issued the highest-level red heatwave alert for 54 departments, about half the country, as daytime highs exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in multiple regions.
The alert covers areas including the greater Paris region and extends into the southwest, with officials warning of health risks from the prolonged high temperatures and warm nights. Schools adjusted schedules or closed in affected areas, while transport services faced disruptions.
Similar red alerts were in place in parts of Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, where forecasters warned of potential record heat.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an emergency meeting on the crisis. “There is a tragic scourge of drownings,” he said, citing figures of about 40 deaths in rivers and other waters since mid-June as people sought relief from the heat.
Civil safety officials urged the public to avoid unsupervised swimming and limit outdoor activity during peak heat. Details on individual incidents remained under investigation.
Broader heat-related concerns included the deaths of two young children found in a parked car in southeastern France, with heat cited as a leading factor, prosecutors said. Three elderly people also died in the Bordeaux region from heat-related causes.
Meteorologists attributed the pattern to a high-pressure system known as an "Omega block," which has trapped hot air over Western Europe. France recorded its hottest June day on recent records, with some areas approaching or exceeding previous benchmarks.
The heatwave has strained resources in a country where air conditioning is not widespread. Authorities advised vulnerable populations, including the elderly, to take precautions.
As of Tuesday, red alerts remained in effect across much of France, with forecasts indicating continued high temperatures into the coming days. Officials continued to monitor the situation.
