France in a heatwave emergency, temperatures in Bordeaux hit 43 degrees Celsius and 845 schools close

The heatwave sweeping France has put 49 of the country’s 96 regions on red alert, as authorities prepare for days of scorching temperatures.

According to the BBC, temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C today in some parts of western France. Météo-France said the thermometer in Bordeaux could climb as high as 43°C.

The Education Ministry announced that around 845 schools will remain closed during the day, while another 1,800 students have been authorized to leave classes early.

Meanwhile, an orange heat alert has been declared in dozens of other regions, bringing the total number of people affected nationwide to 63 million. These severe weather conditions follow a weekend during which temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius, prompting a ban on alcohol consumption at the annual “Fête de la Musique” festival, a nationwide event that draws large crowds into the streets of most cities.

In Gironde, in the southwest of the country, local authorities announced on Sunday that three people, aged between 80 and 95, had died partly as a result of the extreme heat.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told French public broadcaster TV1 Info that many “citizens will suffer” during these days of high temperatures and urged people to look after their relatives and neighbors.