France Places 24 Departments on Red Heat Alert as Heatwave Continues

Twenty-four departments in northwestern France and the Paris region will be placed on red heat alert on Saturday, with 56 departments on orange alert. Officials said the very high temperatures could persist until Thursday. The current heatwave began on July 4 and has now lasted one week. A climatologist stated that the conditions are certain to continue until July 16.

Friday, July 10, the prime minister chaired an interministerial crisis unit. Officials activated the Orsec Extreme Heat Plan to address consequences from the June heatwave and adapt measures to the current event. The plan applies especially in departments under red alert, according to the director general of civil protection and crisis management.

Bastille Day events on July 14 are expected to occur under the same high temperatures.