Heat wave grips Europe, Paris cuts Eiffel Tower visiting hours and several cities in Italy go on red alert

A severe heat wave has swept across Europe, hitting France, Italy, and other countries on the continent particularly hard, with serious effects on daily life, public health, and the tourism sector.

Across much of Europe, from France to Poland, temperatures are running 12–14 degrees above the seasonal average. According to meteorologists, this situation could continue for several more days, while a drop in temperatures is expected at the beginning of July.

In Paris, authorities have decided that the Eiffel Tower will temporarily close earlier than usual, limiting visiting hours until 16:00 instead of 00:45. Temperatures reaching as high as 40°C have caused the steel structure to expand by up to 15 centimeters. For the same reasons, the Louvre Museum will also close earlier, due to the building overheating and the heavy flow of visitors.

The situation is also serious outside Paris, according to French authorities, who report extreme temperatures and a significant increase in heat-related incidents, including drownings in rivers and canals.

In Italy, high temperatures have placed several cities on red alert. Meanwhile, in other areas there has been an increase in cases requiring emergency medical intervention, especially among the elderly and people working outdoors.

The World Health Organization has stressed that extreme heat is no longer simply a meteorological phenomenon, but a health emergency that in recent years has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in Europe.

In several European countries, authorities have taken emergency measures, including restrictions on public activities, school closures, and travel warnings. Experts underline that major cities are increasingly turning into “urban heat islands.”