Eighteen people have died in France as a result of a record-breaking heatwave in Europe.
Among the deaths were two children found in a hot car in France’s southeast, as well as 13 drownings across the country.
The French meteorological administration has put the majority of the country at red alert, the highest warning level.
Here’s the latest.
Background
A heatwave is a prolonged period of significantly warmer-than-average temperatures.
They can last a few days or up toseveral weeks.
This summer has been abnormally hot for much of Europe, including France, where new heat records have been set in five cities this week.
The UK, Belgium, Italy, and Spain are also recording above average temperatures.
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Latest
Over the weekend and early this week, French media reported 18 deaths due to the heatwave.
Local broadcaster TF1 reported a two-year-old and four-year-old died in their family car in France’s southeast on Monday (local time), where temperatures reached 39ºC.
Thirteen people died from drowning across the country, while three elderly people died from heat-related causes in southwest France, according to The Connexion.
Response
French weather authorities have issued heat warnings for most of the country.
French PM Sébastien Lecornu ordered local councils to banalcohol consumption at the annual nationwide Fête de la Musique event.
On Monday (local time) Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 845 schools were closed, while some exams have been postponed.
