France to trigger extreme heat emergency plan in red alert areas

PARIS: France will for the first time activate its Extreme Heat ORSEC emergency plan on Friday in all departments placed on the highest red heatwave alert, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced.

Speaking to broadcaster TF1, Bregeon said the government would put the mechanism into effect in all areas under red alert and open cooling centres for vulnerable residents.

We will activate today, in all departments placed under red heat wave alert, the Extreme Heat ORSEC plan. (..) We will open cooling centres to shelter the most vulnerable.

The plan was unveiled on July 2 and is intended to organise a coordinated response by public authorities during episodes of extreme heat. The civil protection mechanism is designed to bring in extra resources when temperatures become exceptionally high. It also includes steps to identify and support people living in isolation.

Alerts expanded as heatwave persists

According to the latest bulletin from Meteo-France, nine departments in western France will move to a red heatwave alert from noon on Friday, while another 72 departments remain under an orange alert. Meteo-France also indicated that conditions are expected to worsen further on Saturday, with 24 departments under red alert and 56 under orange alert.

The weather agency said the heatwave has affected France since July 4 and is expected to continue at least until Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to rise again on Sunday.

Wildfire risk rises

The prolonged period of hot weather has also intensified wildfire danger. During the first week of July, 9,921 hectares, or 24,516 acres, were burned, nearly three times the area destroyed during the same period last year.

Authorities have also called off several Bastille Day fireworks displays because of the elevated wildfire risk, including events in the Herault and Vendee departments.

The developments come amid broader concern over the impact of the heatwave in western Europe. At least 3,700 excess deaths were recorded during the heatwave in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.