Shoppers line up at Paris Lidl stores for air conditioners

Hundreds of people gathered outside Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris on Thursday seeking low-cost air-cooling units priced as low as €179. Scuffles and shouting matches broke out as shoppers competed for the limited stock. Police were called to at least two stores after large crowds arrived.

One customer who had waited more than an hour at a northern Paris location said staff initially indicated two units remained before officers arrived and removed them.

Background on recent heat France recently experienced a record heatwave that produced excess deaths, strained hospitals, closed schools, and led to cancelled music festivals. Weather services have forecast another period of hot weather for the coming weekend.

Few homes and schools in France have air conditioning because of historically mild summers. Officials have noted that this leaves many buildings unprepared for more frequent heatwaves that scientists link to global warming.