UNIPA News(Paris)23 June-At least 18 people have died in France as an intense heat wave swept across Europe, driving temperatures to record highs and prompting widespread health and safety concerns.
French authorities reported that two children, aged two and four, died after being found unconscious in a family car outside their home in southeastern France. Emergency responders were unable to revive them. In the Bordeaux region, three elderly people aged between 80 and 95 also died over the weekend from heat-related health complications.
Authorities further reported 13 drowning deaths between Sunday and Monday. Civil Safety officials urged the public to swim only in supervised areas, noting that drowning fatalities tend to rise sharply during periods of extreme heat as people seek relief from high temperatures.
The heat wave has shattered temperature records in several parts of France. Bordeaux recorded 41.9 degrees Celsius, surpassing its previous record set in August last year, while Poitiers reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, breaking a record that had stood since 1947. Paris was also expected to register its highest temperature ever recorded in June, reaching 38.4 degrees Celsius according to preliminary data.
The extreme weather disrupted daily life across the country, with schools either closing or modifying schedules to protect students and staff from dangerous conditions.
The heat wave has affected large parts of Europe. In Spain, temperatures in the northern city of San Sebastian were forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, significantly above seasonal averages. Spanish weather officials reported temperatures ranging from five to more than ten degrees above normal in several regions.
Italy issued red heat alerts for 12 cities, while power infrastructure faced growing pressure. In Turin, utility operators increased staffing levels and deployed additional generators to address sporadic electricity outages linked to increased demand.
Meteorologists attributed the prolonged heat to an “Omega block” weather pattern, which traps a mass of hot air over Europe while limiting wind and cooler air movement. The pattern is drawing exceptionally warm air from North Africa, contributing to sustained and intense temperatures across the continent.
Climate experts said rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and severity of heat waves. A recent assessment by the World Meteorological Organization found that Europe is warming at more than twice the global average rate.
The heat has also affected wildlife. Animal rescue centers in Belgium reported a surge in admissions, particularly among young birds exposed to extreme temperatures in rooftop nests, where temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius.
