Northern France: Twins' Death by Dehydration Confirmed by Autopsy

Autopsies have confirmed that 15-month-old twins found dead at their family home in Beuvrages, northern France, died from dehydration. Medical-legal analyses also revealed that the girls were underweight, according to a statement from Valenciennes prosecutor Christelle Dumont.

The parents, aged 35 and 32, were taken into custody on Monday afternoon and their detention has been extended. The couple had called emergency services after discovering their youngest children unresponsive in their beds. An investigation into "deprivation of care by a parent resulting in the death of a minor under 15 years of age" was immediately launched.

Their four other children, aged between two and a half and six years old, were hospitalized but their lives are not in danger. Sources close to the investigation indicated that these children were also found to be dehydrated. The parents had no prior record with the justice system and face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The mayor of Beuvrages described the family as "well-integrated" and recently moved into a new house with the aim of providing a better environment for their children. However, reports from neighbors suggest that temperatures remained high in their brick homes, even after the region moved from a red heatwave alert to green. France has experienced a historic heatwave, with Public Health France already recording over a thousand more deaths than normal since June 24.

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The medical-legal analyses concluded 'death by dehydration of the girls, also noting underweight,' the prosecutor of Valenciennes Christelle Dumont specified in a statement.