Two Children Found Dead in Car Amid France's Severe Heatwave

French meteorological officials announced on Monday that six additional departments will be added to the red alert list as the country faces an intense heatwave. Authorities reported finding the bodies of two children, aged four and two, inside their family vehicle in southeastern France amid the heatwave sweeping across large parts of Western Europe, expected to break temperature records, according to The Guardian.

Hélène Morgis, the public prosecutor in Carpentras, where temperatures were forecasted to exceed 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 Fahrenheit) on Monday afternoon, said, "The causes of death have not yet been determined, but the extreme heat is the main focus of the investigation."

These deaths follow the weekend fatalities of three elderly individuals, aged between 80 and 95, near Bordeaux, attributed to health complications linked to high temperatures. Additionally, 13 other people drowned in swimming-related incidents.

On Monday, French authorities raised the alert level to the highest degree (level one) in 49 out of 96 departments on the mainland, urging approximately 35 million residents to exercise extreme caution, avoid physical exertion, and stay out of direct sunlight.

Six more departments will be added to the red alert list on Tuesday, while 35 others will remain under an orange warning (level two).

The French national meteorological service, Météo-France, stated that "extremely high temperatures are expected to persist for an extended period across the country."

The severe heatwave affecting most of Europe has prompted emergency meetings in France and nationwide warnings in Germany.

Météo-France added that temperatures in western and central France are likely to surpass 40 degrees Celsius starting Monday afternoon, reaching 43 degrees in Bordeaux, 41 degrees in Limoges, 40 degrees in Toulouse and Tours, and 39 degrees in Paris, with temperatures expected to continue rising through the week.

The meteorological agency forecasted that nighttime minimum temperatures will remain significantly above normal levels at least until Friday, noting that many cities and towns recorded minimum temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, setting unprecedented records.

The national heat index in France, which averages maximum day and night temperatures recorded at 30 weather stations nationwide, reached its highest June level on Monday.

More than 1,300 schools across France were closed on Monday, with an additional 4,000 schools rescheduling classes to allow students to leave earlier. One in every ten regional train services around Paris was canceled due to safety concerns related to the heat and rail infrastructure.

During a visit to a Paris hospital on Monday, French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist stated, "Many people will suffer because their bodies are affected by the accumulation of high temperatures." She urged citizens to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbors.

Rist told French television, "We expect, at minimum, several days of intense heat. We do not know when temperatures will begin to drop."

Despite the heatwave, France held its annual popular music festival, the "Festival de la Musique," on Sunday, although some local authorities canceled it entirely or limited events to evening hours. Restrictions on alcohol sales were imposed in several areas.

The severe heatwave spread across most of Europe on Sunday, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, resulting in widespread warnings and transport disruptions.

Spain declared its first official heatwave of the year, lasting from Sunday through Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius in some regions. A public viewing event in Madrid for the national football team’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia was canceled.

The Spanish meteorological agency issued a red alert for the northern Basque region, forecasting temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius in San Sebastián, more than double the seasonal average.

Robín del Campo, the agency’s spokesperson, said, "We are seeing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above the normal level for this time of year, and in some northern areas, exceeding 10 degrees."

In Germany, organizers suspended the Berlin Open tennis final and evacuated attendees due to severe thunderstorms, with temperatures in the capital exceeding 30 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

Belgium recorded temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marking "the highest ever," according to David Dehino, head of forecasting at the IRM meteorological institute. Some peak-hour train services were canceled to reduce the risk of breakdowns.

The UK’s national meteorological service issued a "severe heat" warning for most of southern England and parts of Wales until Thursday, forecasting temperatures up to 39 degrees Celsius. The current June temperature record is 35.6 degrees Celsius, set in 1976.

Italy issued red heat warnings on Monday for 12 cities, including Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna, Florence, and Rome.

Scientists have stated that as global temperatures continue to rise, severe heatwaves that historically occurred only during peak summer will become more frequent, intense, and prolonged, also occurring earlier and later in the year.