France recorded its hottest day ever on a national scale on Tuesday, with temperatures in Pissos, south-west France, reaching a scorching 44.3C.
An average temperature, measured across 30 weather stations, reached a new height of 29.8C, hotter than the previous record in 2019.
Météo-France said other cities also experienced unprecedented highs, including 42.1 °C in Bordeaux.
At least 42 people have died in the past few days, and more than 800 schools have closed across the country as Europe struggles with scorching temperatures of more than 40C.
Speaking after a crisis meeting on Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that 40 of the deaths were due to drowning and happened in the last five days. Many of the victims were young people, he added.
Officials in southeastern France also said the heatwave was the most likely reason for the additional deaths of two children, aged two and four, who were found unconscious in a car outside their home in Carpentras.
A manslaughter inquiry has since been launched after a police source told the French newspaper Le Parisien that the mother said she had “forgotten her children” in the car while shopping.
The deaths come as France’s meteorological service, Meteo France, placed 54 departments — or administrative regions — under a red heat alert, with Bordeaux hitting 42C on Monday.
Sebastien Leas, forecaster for Meteo France, said: “The coming days are shaping up to be among the ten hottest ever recorded nationwide.
“So it’s not only the intensity of this heatwave that is exceptional, but also how early it is, since it began even before the official start of summer and will apparently continue until the end of the week.”
Red heat alerts have been issued across Europe, in the UK, Italy, France and Spain, while Belgium, Germany, and Portugal will also see temperatures in the high 30Cs this week.
The French government prohibited the sale of alcohol at events, including the popular festival, Fête de la Musique, and also said it would close the Eiffel Tower early on Tuesday due to the heatwave.
President Emmanuel Macron has urged the public to drink plenty of water and look after the elderly, children, and isolated people.
French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Monday that more than 800 schools had closed.
Transport has also been impacted, with French rail company SNCF and Belgium’s train provider SNCB cancelling trains due to the heat, according to their websites.
What is a red warning?
The Met Office says a red warning heatwave could pose a threat of “serious illness or danger to life”.
Current temperatures have been compared to the August 2003 heatwave, when France saw the highest temperatures in over half a century, and an estimated 15,000 people died.
The Italian Ministry of Health has warned people not to leave babies or animals alone in vehicles during the heat, and urges people to wear sunscreen and breathable clothing.
Why is Europe so hot?
High pressure is building over Europe, trapping hot air, which then sinks and locks in the heat.
This so-called “heat dome” is dominating weather systems in central and northwestern Europe, leading to extreme temperatures.
The heat is expected to continue throughout this week and even into Monday.
Cities like Cordoba in southern Spain will continue to see temperatures in the high 30Cs and early 40Cs.
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