A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, affecting at least 150 million people across the continent. Temperatures have soared above 35°C in numerous regions, with more than 50 million residents in Germany and over 30 million in France expected to experience such extreme heat today, according to calculations by France’s national weather agency, Météo-France.
France: 55 Drown Amid Power Outages and Event Cancellations
In France — where two-thirds of the country remains under a high-level ‘red’ heat alert — the death toll from drowning has risen to 55 since the heatwave began, the French government announced today. Officials warned the figure could rise further as people seek relief in rivers, lakes, and swimming pools amid scorching conditions.
Power outages have also surged: 46,000 households were left without electricity this morning at 9 a.m. local time (10 a.m. in Greece), primarily in the western suburbs of Paris and the Bordeaux region in southwestern France. Around 1,000 technicians from Enedis, the national electricity distribution company, are mobilized to address damage and restore service.
Major tourist sites in Paris — including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre — have announced early closures. Three-quarters of mainland France remain under the highest-level red alert.
Climate Change ‘Undeniably’ to Blame
A new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, published today, concludes that human-caused climate change is ‘undoubtedly’ responsible for the intensity of the current heatwave hitting Western Europe — a phenomenon that would have been ‘virtually impossible’ just 50 years ago. Scientists noted that the unusually high daytime and nighttime temperatures observed this week would have been ‘essentially impossible’ during the same period in 1976 — a year also marked by a historic heatwave.
Slow Easing, But Risks Remain
While the heatwave has slightly eased in France compared to yesterday’s peak — when 72 administrative departments were under red alerts — 61 departments remain on the highest alert level. A gradual improvement is expected in 14 departments by Saturday morning.
In response to the extreme conditions, Paris police have formally requested that organizers postpone tomorrow’s Pride March — scheduled for Saturday, 27 June 2026 — citing unprecedented heat stress on emergency services and public safety concerns.