Paris, France
Reuters
Seven people have died in France directly or indirectly due to a heatwave, Junior Energy Minister Maud Bregeon said on Tuesday, which has become the hottest day in May recorded in French history, according to the national weather service.
A worker sprays water on people passing by in Buttes Chaumont park, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees Celsius, during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, on 25th May, 2026. PICTURE: Reuters/Tom Nicholson
The national heat index, which measures the average temperature across the country, reached 24.8 degrees Celsius, Meteo France’s preliminary readings at 5pm on Tuesday showed. This beat 24.6 degrees Celsius on Monday and thus marked the hottest day ever recorded in the month of May nationwide.
Five of the seven fatalities were people drowning in lakes, rivers or beaches, Bregeon said.
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The government has ordered local authorities to take measures to protect people during sporting events, she said.
France has been experiencing higher-than-average temperatures since Saturday.
Most of Brittany has been under an orange level warning by weather service Meteo France, which expects temperatures to reach up to 36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday afternoon.
The heat wave is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, Meteo France said on its website.
– Additional reporting by DOMINIQUE VIDALON