PARIS (AP) — France sizzled Sunday, canceling trains, concerts and sports events and cracking down on public drinking as an exceptional heat wave unfurled across parts of Europe. Multiple drownings were reported as people sought relief in whatever water they could find.
About a third of France is under "red alert" heat and temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter.
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures introduced by authorities to minimize risks. Tourists in Rome dunked in fountains. Spain's Basque Country canceled some sports and cultural events.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative voices are emphasizing local preparedness and personal responsibility over new government mandates. Critics of expansive climate policy question whether single weather events should drive large-scale regulatory changes, arguing instead for community-level solutions and individual preparation for seasonal extremes.
Some voices in conservative media have noted that heat waves are not unprecedented phenomena and that European nations have survived similar events before — pointing to France's 2003 experience when about 15,000 older people died. They argue government resources should focus on targeted assistance for the truly vulnerable rather than sweeping policy overhauls.
Others raise concerns about government overreach, questioning whether banning public drinking and canceling events represents appropriate emergency response or excessive restriction of personal freedom during a temporary weather event.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices are using the heat wave to renew calls for aggressive climate action. The World Health Organization's Europe office reported this month that more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, with most fatalities deemed preventable — framing extreme heat as a public health crisis requiring government intervention.
Environmental advocates argue this underscores the need for faster transitions to renewable energy and stronger emissions regulations. A rapid study found that human-caused climate change was responsible for killing about 1,500 people in an unusually early European heat wave in May, reinforcing scientific consensus on the deadly consequences of inaction.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered government ministers to plan for better adapting France to heat waves in the future — including "via air conditioning, if necessary" — a position welcomed by those who say wealthy nations have both the resources and responsibility to protect citizens from climate-driven extremes. Some progressive commentators argue that expanding access to cooling technology is not just a health measure but an equity issue affecting low-income households disproportionately.
What the Numbers Show
The scale of disruption is substantial: About one-third of France placed under red alert for extreme heat. Temperatures reached 40°C (104°F) in some areas with Monday forecast to be even hotter. The French national rail authority canceled scores of trains and dispatched thousands of extra staff to manage infrastructure stress on rails and electrical cables.
In Spain, large parts of the country are on alert due to temperatures expected around 40°C — including the typically cooler northern Basque Country region where outdoor sports and cultural activities have been suspended through Wednesday. Italy expanded heat warnings to eight cities in northern and central regions with temperatures mostly in the upper 30s°C (high 90s to low 100s°F).
Germany's Weather Service forecasts up to 37-39°C (98-102°F) for Monday through Wednesday. Britain's weather office issued an extreme heat warning for much of southern England and parts of Wales, projecting temperatures reaching 38°C (100°F), approaching the current June record of 35.6°C (96°F) set in 1976.
The death toll from water-related incidents is notable: French media reported four children drowned Saturday as people sought relief in bodies of water. In Germany, a 23-year-old man drowned in a lake near Rheinstetten and three others are missing after swimming in the Rhine River.
About 845 schools closed Monday across France. The government mobilized emergency services and military forces for reinforced wildfire readiness and tightened surveillance of water supplies to France's nuclear reactors.
The Bottom Line
This heat wave represents one of several extreme weather events striking Europe in recent months, following a record-breaking May that brought deaths at amateur sports events. U.N. climate agency projections indicate the next five years should shatter more heat records, suggesting such disruptions may become increasingly routine for European governments to manage.
French authorities are notably worried about people living on streets and elderly individuals in nursing homes or isolated in their homes — populations historically hardest hit during extreme heat events. The government banned public drinking in red alert zones and ordered Music Day event organizers to limit alcohol consumption "to preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable."
What happens next: France's Prime Minister convened a new government heat crisis meeting Sunday, with ministers tasked to develop longer-term adaptation strategies. Other European nations are similarly activating emergency protocols while monitoring whether their infrastructure can withstand sustained high temperatures. Health authorities warn that above-average summer temperatures can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke — risks compounded when air conditioning remains uncommon in many European buildings.