France Braces for Extreme Heat as Power Outages Hit Thousands/ Image @ BBC
Tens of thousands of residents in western France remained without electricity on Wednesday as an unprecedented heatwave tightened its grip on the country and much of Europe.
Officials reported that roughly 68,000 households across Brittany were affected by power cuts, with full restoration not expected before late Wednesday.
The outages came as temperatures continued to soar nationwide, pushing emergency services and infrastructure to their limits.
According to national weather agency Météo-France, more than half of the country was placed under the highest weather warning level, with temperatures in the southwest forecast to climb as high as 43°C.
The nation recorded its warmest day on record on Tuesday, when the average national temperature reached 29.8°C.
In the Landes region, the town of Pissos registered a blistering 44.3°C, marking one of the highest readings ever documented in the country.
Meteorologists also confirmed that Monday night into Tuesday was the hottest overnight period ever measured nationwide, with average temperatures remaining close to 30°C.
The intense conditions have spread beyond France’s borders.
Authorities in the Netherlands issued warnings for hazardous weather, while parts of the United Kingdom were placed under a rare red alert as forecasters predicted temperatures approaching 38°C on Thursday.
Belgium and the Netherlands are expected to experience their hottest conditions on Friday, while Germany could see readings near 40°C over the weekend.
Similar warnings have been issued across eastern Europe, including Poland, Croatia and Hungary.
France, Spain and Italy have borne the brunt of the scorching spell so far.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu revealed that at least 40 people have lost their lives in drowning incidents linked to the extreme weather since last week, as many sought relief in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Weather officials expanded the highest-level warning zone to 58 regions on Wednesday, while another 31 areas remained under orange alerts. Early morning temperatures highlighted the severity of the situation, with La Rochelle already recording 29°C by 5 a.m.
Forecasters expect much of western France, stretching from Paris to Brittany, to endure daytime highs between 39°C and 40°C through the end of the week.
In Bordeaux, record-breaking temperatures continued for a third consecutive day. After surpassing the previous city record of 41.6°C on Monday with 41.8°C, the mercury climbed further to 42.1°C on Tuesday.
Relief may arrive from Friday as cooler air gradually moves in. However, meteorologists cautioned that the transition could trigger violent thunderstorms, flash floods and large hailstorms.
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou said the country must adapt to a changing climate, noting that France is increasingly facing conditions once associated with much hotter regions.
Authorities also warned of heightened wildfire danger.
In Maine-et-Loire, more than 150 firefighters battled a major blaze in Breignon Forest near Saint-Macaire-du-Bois. The flames were brought under control overnight, and no injuries were reported.
Several famous tourist attractions have been affected.
The Louvre Museum temporarily shortened opening hours, citing concerns that its historic structure is ill-equipped to cope with prolonged extreme temperatures and large visitor numbers.
The Eiffel Tower also reduced operating hours during the hottest days.
Among the latest victims of the heatwave was a six-year-old child who drowned at an unsupervised beach in Bègles, Gironde.
A 17-year-old girl also lost her life while swimming in a restricted section of the Marne River near Paris.
Germany has likewise reported multiple water-related fatalities.
One victim, a 26-year-old Syrian man, disappeared in the Danube near Regensburg on Tuesday evening.
Rescue teams conducted an extensive search using boats and a helicopter before recovering him several hours later. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
German authorities, expecting temperatures of up to 37°C on Wednesday, have urged the public to exercise caution around rivers and lakes, stressing the dangers posed by strong currents and heat-related fatigue.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong