The mother of the two children found them unconscious in the family car in a residential parking lot in Carpentras, where temperatures reached 39 degrees C on the afternoon of 22/6. Rescue forces could not revive the two children. "The cause of death has not yet been determined, but the heat is currently the main line of investigation", prosecutor Helene Mourges said.

In addition to these two victims, three individuals aged 80-95 died due to the extreme temperatures, and 13 people died from drowning.

Thermometer at a pharmacy in Nantes shows a temperature of 43 degrees C. Photo: Reuters

On 22/6, French authorities declared a state of emergency in 49 of 96 departments at life-threatening level I, the highest level. They urged 35 million residents to exercise "absolute vigilance", avoid excessive physical activity, and direct sun exposure. An additional 6 departments were expected to be added to the list on 23/6, while the remaining 35 departments maintained an orange alert level II.

France's national meteorological agency, Meteo-France, forecast: "Very high temperatures are persisting for a long period across the country". The agency stated that temperatures across western and central France were likely to exceed 40 degrees C from the afternoon of 22/6, reaching 43 degrees C in Bordeaux, 41 degrees C in Limoges, 40 degrees C in Toulouse and Tours, and 39 degrees C in Paris. Temperatures would continue to rise until the end of the week. Meteo-France also noted that minimum night temperatures could be significantly higher than normal until at least 26/6; minimum temperatures of about 25 degrees C recorded in some towns and cities on the night of 21/6 set an unprecedented historical benchmark.

France's national heat index, the average of highest daytime and nighttime temperatures measured at 30 weather stations across the country, reached its highest June level on 22/6.

The heatwave led to widespread disruption. Over 1,300 schools closed nationwide, while 4,000 others adjusted their schedules for earlier dismissal. One in 10 trains in the Paris region was canceled due to concerns about the impact on trains and tracks.

French Health Minister Stephanie Rist, during a visit to a Paris hospital on 22/6, commented on the situation: "Many people will suffer from this, as their bodies will be exhausted by the accumulation of high temperatures." She urged residents to check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable individuals. "We are entering very, very hot days, at least for the next few days. We truly do not know when temperatures will start to drop", she stated.

Passersby stand under a cooling mist sprayer installed by Paris authorities at a street music festival on 21/6. Photo: AFP

Despite the warnings, many places in France still held the annual Fete de la Musique street music festival on 21/6, although some local authorities canceled it entirely and others only organized evening events. Alcohol restrictions were also imposed in many areas.

Beyond France, many Western European countries also recorded unprecedented heat. Spain announced its first official heatwave of the year, lasting from 21/6 to 24/6, with temperatures forecast to reach 44 degrees C in some areas. In Madrid, the public screening of the national football team's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia was canceled. The national weather agency Aemet on 21/6 warned of "extremely high" daytime and nighttime temperatures, issuing a red alert for the northern Basque region, where San Sebastian was forecast to reach 40 degrees C, more than double the seasonal average. Ruben del Campo, spokesperson for the Aemet meteorological agency, said: "We are seeing temperatures 5-10 degrees C higher than normal for this time of year. In some northern areas, this figure is even more than 10 degrees above average."

An air conditioner technician for a restaurant in Ronda, southern Spain, on 21/6. Photo: AFP

In the United Kingdom, the national weather agency Met Office issued an "extreme heat" warning for most of southern England and parts of Wales lasting until 25/6, forecasting temperatures up to 39 degrees C. The current record for a June day is 35,6 degrees C, set in 1976. Italy on 22/6 also issued a red heat warning for 12 cities, including: Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Florence, and Rome.

Scientists state that as the Earth continues to warm, extreme heat events, previously confined to mid-summer, will occur more frequently, intensely, for longer durations, and at more unusual times of the year.

Hong Hanh (According to Guardian)