France issues maximum alert as heatwave grips over a third of the country

France is grappling with a severe heatwave, prompting authorities to issue a maximum alert across 35 departments, impacting approximately 26 million residents.

The prolonged heat, which began earlier in the week, has significantly disrupted daily life. Dozens of train services have been canceled, and schools have suspended classes. Authorities are particularly concerned about the upcoming Fête de la Musique (Music Festival) celebrations, scheduled for Sunday, where musicians typically fill the streets with free concerts and public gatherings extend late into the night.

To mitigate risks associated with the extreme temperatures, the government has implemented measures, including a ban on alcohol consumption in public spaces within the red-alert departments. This decision, announced after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, aims to preserve emergency and health services, allowing medical personnel to focus on vulnerable populations. The office of the Prime Minister stated that organized state events will not serve alcohol.

In Paris, exceptional measures are in place to help residents and tourists endure the heat. Parks and gardens in the capital will remain open throughout the night. The heatwave has already been linked to at least 13 deaths in France and the United Kingdom, according to AFP figures, underscoring the severity of the situation.

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the combination of alcohol, heat and proximity to water: these are three risk factors that do not mix well