Key facts
- France is experiencing a heatwave with temperatures projected to reach 40°C.
- Sixty departments are on orange heatwave alert, impacting 41 million people.
- Vulnerable individuals are being registered by municipalities for welfare checks.
- Schools and construction sites are modifying schedules or closing.
- SNCF has announced disruptions to 71 rail routes due to heat.
- Hospitals are seeing more heat-related admissions, especially among vulnerable populations.
France is sweltering under a severe heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 40°C and 60 departments placed under an orange alert, affecting 41 million people. The extreme conditions are straining farms, schools, rail services, and health facilities across the country.
In response to the soaring temperatures, municipalities are implementing measures to protect vulnerable populations, including creating registers for welfare checks. Paris is considering cancelling the Fête de la Musique festival due to the combination of alcohol, heat, and proximity to water posing risks. The Paris police prefect has requested the cancellation of 11 outdoor sporting events planned for the weekend.
Daily life is being disrupted, with schools and construction sites adjusting their hours or closing. The national railway operator, SNCF, has announced service disruptions on 71 routes due to concerns about rail expansion and air-conditioning failures. Hospitals are reporting an increase in heat-related admissions, particularly among children and the elderly.
Agricultural operations, especially in vineyards, are adapting by shifting work hours to early mornings and enforcing safety measures. Climatologists note that such heat events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, necessitating a reevaluation of societal organization in the face of extreme weather.