Shoppers brawl over air conditioners and fans in France as heatwave looms

France is bracing for a severe heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius this weekend. The anticipated sweltering conditions have led to desperate measures, as illustrated by chaotic scenes at a major supermarket chain.

Following the store's pledge to stock 200,000 air conditioning units and fans, an extraordinary phenomenon unfolded. Customers lined up outside the premises well before sunrise, eager to secure the essential appliances. However, the situation quickly devolved into pandemonium once the doors opened.

Hundreds of customers surged into the store, leading to physical altercations as they fought to grab the electronic devices. Social media videos captured the tense atmosphere, with women seen screaming and crying as they wrestled for fans. One clip showed a man intervening to separate two arguing customers.

Other footage depicted a stampede of people rushing through aisles, rapidly grabbing product boxes. Shelves were cleared in an instant, highlighting the intense demand. Local reporters noted that police intervention became necessary as customers resorted to punching and employing any means necessary to ensure they left with the cooling appliances.