A "tropical night" phenomenon, with temperatures remaining above 20 degrees Celsius, began on 23/6, prompting many residents in Paris and major French cities to shift their daily routines to nighttime.

Cafe terraces, park benches, fountains, and public swimming pools are crowded. Evening temperatures in many areas reached 38-40 degrees Celsius, forcing many residents to leave their homes.

At the Murs a peches swimming pool in the Montreuil suburb of Paris, management extended opening hours. Teenagers gathered around the water slide, while families spread out mats on the lawn.

Residents gathered on lawns in Paris parks to rest and nap on the evening of 24/6. Photo: RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH/LE MONDE

Elyes, 50, a construction worker, brought his two sons there to escape the heat. "The cramped spaces in social housing are extremely hot in this weather," he said.

Sarah Conovic, a nursing home employee, explained that her two-bedroom apartment retains heat due to a lack of insulation. "We turn the fan to its highest setting but still cannot sleep; only immersing ourselves in water feels cooler," she said.

At 9 p.m., many began to leave the swimming pool. Romuald Martin, a subway driver, left with his four children. He stated, "The children need to swim because it is too hot indoors after school."

At Parc des Beaumonts, crowds gathered on the grass to enjoy the breeze. Alema, a cleaner, sat on a bench watching her grandchildren play. "The hot weather forces my entire family to go out for a walk," she said. Nearby, Flora Perez, a Spanish-born puppeteer, cycled from Fontenay-sous-Bois to the park. Around her, some groups of young people drank beer, while a few men laid out sleeping bags in a corner of the park.

Many people gathered on the street at Belvedere de Belleville in Paris at 10:10 p.m. on 24/6. Photo: RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH/LE MONDE

By midnight, at Parc Montsouris in the 14th district — which is open 24 hours a day — temperatures remained high. Some people walked around with flashlights or read books, while a few groups played guitars. At Parc Monceau, groups of people chatted on benches.

In the old town of Saint-Malo in Brittany, Farraj and Hazrat drove to the beach at dawn after late shifts at the supermarket and bakery. "Standing here, catching a 40-degree Celsius breeze, is still more comfortable than ten hours next to an oven," Hazrat said. Around the two young men, many workers and students also gathered on the sand.

At the Pont Royal pier in Orleans, three workers, Madjer, Khan, and Faycal, swam in the Loire River. Kevin, Glenn, and Jordan brought fishing rods to a nearby lighthouse. "The warming sea has led to a decrease in fish populations," Kevin noted. Glenn mentioned that fishing was less important than finding a cool place to escape the heat.

Young people strolled along the Quai de la Seine, Paris, at 1:48 a.m. on 25/6. Photo: Rafael Yaghobzadeh/Le Monde

The Orleans authorities have now issued an order to extend park opening hours. When parks close, many people continue to seek sleeping spots on street corners. Beneath the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, two homeless men laid out sleeping bags. One man, identifying himself as Saint Paul, stated that sleeping outdoors was cooler than staying in unconditioned attics.

Minh Phuong (According to Le Monde)