At least 40 people have drowned in France in recent days while attempting to cool off during a record-breaking heatwave, Prime Minister François Bayrou said on Tuesday, as extreme temperatures continued to grip much of Europe.
The heatwave has affected several countries, including Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Spain, disrupting schools and transport services and forcing the closure of popular tourist attractions, including the Eiffel Tower.
According to Météo-France, the country recorded its hottest day on record on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 44.3°C in a town in southwestern France.
The national weather service has placed 54 departments under its highest-level red heat alert, with that number expected to rise to 58 on Wednesday, describing the situation as unprecedented.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, making prolonged and intense heatwaves increasingly frequent.