Europe heatwave leaves deaths in France as warnings spread

PARIS: A severe spell of heat across Europe left at least 16 people dead in France, where authorities said 13 people drowned on Sunday and overnight into Monday while trying to cool off, and three elderly people died due to the extreme temperatures.

The deaths came as France shut thousands of schools or adjusted their schedules and other European authorities issued heatwave alerts. In Britain, forecasters warned that temperatures this week could break long-standing June records.

In southwestern France, temperatures in Bordeaux were forecast to rise above 42 degrees Celsius on Monday. Meteo France said 49 regional administrative areas were under a red heatwave warning, reflecting the scale of the high-temperature conditions affecting the country.

French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said the country was facing several more days of intense heat. Speaking to TF1, she said: "We're heading for, at the very least, several days of very, very hot weather. We don't know when temperatures will start falling."

Jerome Boulanger, a spokesperson for the French Civil Safety service, told broadcaster RMC that people should only swim in places where it is safe to do so, after multiple drownings were reported during the hot spell.

Europe warming faster than global average

An April report by the World Meteorological Organization found that Europe is heating up at more than twice the global rate. Reuters Climate Monitor also showed Europe on Monday as the continent furthest above its historical norm, with average temperatures forecast at 24C, which was 4.1C above the typical level recorded during 1961-1990.

In Britain, the Met Office said a four-day heatwave could push temperatures above 39C in some areas. That would comfortably surpass the current June record of 35.6C, which was set in 1957 and matched in 1976.

The rising temperatures were also being felt in central London, where residents described the heat as difficult to bear. Data scientist Lewis Jennings, who was out walking in the city, said: "I think UK heat is something different to the rest of the world. So 36 degrees is going to be disgusting."

The latest warnings underscored the wider impact of extreme heat across Europe, with public services under pressure and authorities urging caution as temperatures remain far above seasonal norms.