Europe Heatwave Kills at Least 48 in France, Closes Schools and Disrupts Power

Europe is experiencing an extreme heatwave that has produced record temperatures above 40C and caused at least 48 deaths in France. Officials said 40 of those deaths were drownings. The heat closed schools, halted some train services, and left 68,000 households without electricity in France.

France recorded its hottest day on record Tuesday with an average temperature of 29.8C and a peak of 44.3C in the southwestern town of Pissos. Paris reached 40C on Wednesday. The capital is not expected to drop below 30C until Sunday.

Spain recorded two heatstroke deaths among elderly residents after temperatures exceeded 40C since the weekend. Temperatures there eased into the 30s on Wednesday but are forecast to return to the low 40s in the southwest by early next week. A long-range forecast shows possible readings near 45C around Sevilla on 4 July.

Italy's health ministry issued its highest heat alert for 16 cities including Florence, Milan, Rome, Turin, and Verona. Meteorologists said temperatures could reach 41C in central and northern regions between Sunday and Monday, with perceived temperatures as high as 45C in humid coastal areas.

Germany is preparing for temperatures up to 40C across much of the country by the weekend after six drownings occurred over the previous weekend. Officials expect readings to fall into the low 20s by Monday as the heat shifts eastward. Greece has so far avoided the worst impacts but forecasts show temperatures up to 40C in parts of the north and southwest by mid-next week.

Athens is expected to remain in the low 30s. The UK placed at least 1,000 schools under full or partial closure orders after the Met Office issued a rare red heat warning covering London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham. Forecasters said some areas could reach 40C on Wednesday and Thursday.