France recorded the hottest night ever measured for the period between June 22 and 23, while the extreme heatwave has caused at least 40 deaths by drowning since June 18, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
According to Meteo-France, it was the hottest night recorded in the country since measurements began in 1947.
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The nationwide average temperature reached 21.6°C, surpassing the previous record of 21.4°C, set in 2019.
Prime Minister Lecornu described the situation as a “major tragedy,” stressing that the victims are a direct consequence of the heat crisis.
“The latest figure reported to us is 40 dead since June 18 — mainly young people,” he said during the emergency meeting.
“These are the first victims of the crisis we are facing,” Lecornu added.
Since last week, the heatwave has gripped France, causing disruptions to daily life, school closures, and train line cancellations.
On Tuesday, Lecornu called ministers to another emergency meeting to discuss the management of the situation.
In many areas of France, citizens are jumping into rivers and canals to get relief from the high temperatures.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said she understands people’s efforts to escape the heat, but warned them not to swim in unauthorized or dangerous places.
Weather experts explain that this heatwave is being driven by an atmospheric phenomenon known as an “Omega block.” This formation, which resembles the Greek letter Omega, creates a mass of very hot air at its center, while cooler air circulates along its sides.
As a result, temperatures continue to rise day by day. In Italy, the Health Ministry declared the highest alert level for 15 cities, while authorities stepped in with measures to limit work.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Service in the United Kingdom forecast that temperatures in southern England could reach as high as 37°C on Tuesday, which could set a new record for the month of June.
Dozens of schools announced their closure, as old buildings do not provide suitable conditions for classes with more than 30 students in a classroom.
High temperatures are also dominating other regions of Europe, including the Balkans.
This is the second heatwave in just two months, following an exceptionally hot period in May.
Scientists stress that the frequent return of these phenomena is a clear signal of global warming and warn that they are expected to become more frequent, longer, and more intense. /rel
