Europe Heatwave Claims 3 Lives as Temperatures Soar Past 40C

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Paris: A record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed three lives in France, forced hundreds of school closures and disrupted transport services as temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the continent.

French authorities said three elderly people aged between 80 and 95 died in the southwestern Gironde region, with officials linking the deaths in part to the extreme heat. Nearly half of mainland France's departments were placed under the highest weather alert on Monday as the heatwave intensified.

The French government ordered the closure of 845 schools, while another 1,800 schools shortened the school day to protect students from the soaring temperatures. Several towns also cancelled public events, including annual music festivals, and authorities banned public alcohol consumption in areas under the highest heat warning.

Forecasters warned the current heatwave could rival the devastating 2003 summer heatwave that killed nearly 15,000 people in France.

The extreme conditions have spread across much of Western Europe. Belgium cut some rail services to reduce the risk of heat-related breakdowns, while meteorologists warned the country could experience its highest temperatures on record in the coming days.

In Spain, temperatures are expected to reach 44C in some areas, prompting authorities to issue warnings of exceptionally high daytime and nighttime temperatures. Officials in Madrid cancelled a planned public screening of Spain's World Cup victory over Saudi Arabia because of the heat.

Scientists said climate change is making such extreme weather events more intense. Akshay Deoras of the University of Reading's National Centre for Atmospheric Science said human-driven warming had increased the likelihood and severity of the current heatwave.

Britain is also bracing for unusually high temperatures, with meteorologists forecasting highs of 38C to 39C this week. Experts said existing UK temperature records for June could be broken by a wide margin, following record heat already recorded in May.

Pic Credit: AFP