Heatwave Sweeps France, 18 Dead; Paris Temperatures Expected to Reach 38.4 Degrees Celsius

(Taipei, June 23) A severe heatwave is currently sweeping across a large part of Europe, with 18 deaths reported in France, including two young children found in a car in the south. The meteorological office predicts temperatures in Paris will reach 38.4 degrees Celsius, while the wine-producing region of Bordeaux has already experienced a high of 41.9 degrees Celsius.

According to reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse, temperatures in several French cities broke historical records today. A prosecutor in Carpentras, in the south, stated that two children, aged 2 and 4, were found unconscious in their parked car at home. When their mother discovered them, they had already lost consciousness, and emergency responders were unable to save them.

According to preliminary data from Meteo-France, the temperature in Paris is expected to reach 38.4 degrees Celsius, setting a new historical high for June.

In Bordeaux, a western wine-producing region, temperatures climbed to 41.9 degrees Celsius, breaking the record set in August last year. Sophie Brocas, a local government official in Bordeaux, told French television late last night that three elderly individuals aged 80 to 95 died over the weekend due to health problems triggered by the heatwave.

The central city of Poitiers reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing its historical high from 1947.

A report released in April by the World Meteorological Organization indicated that Europe is warming at more than twice the global average rate.

According to Reuters Climate Monitor data, European temperatures today deviate the furthest from historical norms compared to other continents.

France, at the core of this abnormal weather, has been suffering from extreme heat for several days. Authorities have closed 1,350 schools and shortened the school hours for another 4,000 schools, allowing students to leave early around noon.

The French government's emergency response team has warned the public not to swim in unsupervised lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water. Thirteen people drowned over the weekend, including a 13-year-old girl.

Jerome Boulanger, a spokesperson for the French Civil Protection and Emergency Management Agency, stated that 13 people drowned between yesterday and today, emphasizing that "swimming is only permitted in supervised areas." Last year, during a heatwave, drowning deaths in France surged by 172% as people sought to cool off in the water.

Clair Barnes, an extreme weather and climate researcher at Imperial College London, said that heatwaves and storms are intensifying due to climate change, leading to higher temperatures and more rainfall. (Compiled by: Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150623

Stand with facts, and your every donation is a force to protect the freedom of the press.

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates.

The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.