Paris, European countries are in the grip of severe heat, with the mercury touching 43 degrees Celsius in France, where at least 40 people have drowned while swimming in unprotected areas during the heatwave.
France recorded its hottest night in history between Monday and Tuesday, during which French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that 40 people have drowned across the country since June 18 while trying to escape the heat, mostly young people.
The prime minister described the deaths as a tragic disaster and said they were the first victims of the crisis the country is facing. According to the French meteorological department, the temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) in the southwestern region on Tuesday. Air conditioning is not widely used in France, which has severely disrupted daily life due to the record-breaking heat.
Multiple schools have been closed due to the high temperature, various events have been canceled, and rail services have also been affected. Authorities said more than 800 schools have been closed,
the Eiffel Tower in Paris has also been closed due to the heat. According to local authorities, two children, aged 2 and 4, were found unconscious in a car outside their home in the southeastern French city of Carpentras and later died.
Authorities say the most likely cause was the severe heat. Similarly, three people, aged 80 and 95, died due to heat-related medical complications in the Bordeaux region. Meanwhile, a red warning has been issued in the UK, with over 300 schools closed in England and Wales, fan sales have increased, and heat warnings have also been issued in Spain, Italy, and Belgium.