A devastating tragedy shocked the small town of Beuvrages, near Valenciennes in northern France, when 15-month-old twin girls were found dead in their beds—apparently from dehydration. The incident occurred amid an intense and prolonged heatwave sweeping across Western Europe, with local authorities having placed the Nord department on a red alert for extreme heat. Temperatures soared over the previous weekend, and the region has been grappling with unusually high temperatures for days.
Emergency Response and Condition of Other Children
According to multiple sources cited by French broadcaster RTL, the parents discovered the twins unresponsive. Emergency services were called and arrived to find four other children—aged 3, 4, 5, and 6—also severely dehydrated. One of the children was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. The French news agency AFP reported that the health of the remaining children has since stabilized and is no longer considered life-threatening.
Parents Taken into Custody Amid Ongoing Investigation
Following the incident, the parents were placed in police custody. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the twins’ deaths. Neighbors told RTL that the family had moved into the neighborhood about two months earlier and kept a low profile.
Autopsy Scheduled to Determine Cause of Death
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, 30 June, to establish the precise cause of death. Officials confirmed the examination will focus especially on whether extreme heat inside the room contributed to fatal dehydration—a possibility being closely examined given the ongoing heatwave. So far, over 1,300 heat-related deaths have been recorded across Western Europe, and investigators are assessing whether this broader environmental crisis played a role in this case.