Paris, France – Web Desk: A severe heatwave sweeping across much of Europe has claimed at least 18 lives in France, including two young children, while authorities have warned of worsening conditions as temperatures continue to break records across the continent.
According to international media reports, France recorded five heat-related deaths, including two children aged two and four who were found unconscious in a parked vehicle outside a home in the southeastern town of Carpentras. Emergency responders attempted to revive the children, but both died. Officials said investigations into the exact cause of death are ongoing, though extreme heat is believed to have played a significant role.
Three elderly individuals also died as a result of the intense temperatures, while 13 people drowned at swimming pools and other water sites across France. Authorities have urged residents to swim only in supervised areas and to follow safety guidelines during the ongoing heatwave.
The extreme weather has shattered temperature records across the country. In the central city of Poitiers, temperatures reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing a 78-year-old record. In Bordeaux, temperatures climbed to 41.9 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous record set in August last year.
The heatwave has disrupted daily life across France, forcing the closure of several schools and prompting schedule changes at others. Multiple train services have also been suspended due to weather-related concerns.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Met Office has warned that June temperature records could be broken this week. Red heat alerts have been issued for parts of England and Wales, where temperatures are forecast to approach 38 degrees Celsius.
A red warning indicates a significant risk to life and potential disruption to critical infrastructure, including electricity supplies, roads and railway networks.
Spain, Italy and Belgium have also issued severe heat warnings as Europe continues to battle one of its most intense early-summer heatwaves in recent years.
