France recorded its hottest night on record Monday as a historic heatwave gripping Europe pushed temperatures beyond 40°C, leaving at least 40 people dead from drowning while attempting to escape the oppressive heat. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting Tuesday after daytime and nighttime temperatures reached 29.2°C on Monday, with forecasters warning that much of the country would face around 40°C on Tuesday .

A total of 54 French departments remained on high alert Tuesday, with more than half the country under red warning—the highest level—after Monday’s record-breaking nighttime temperatures failed to drop below 22°C in many areas and even hovered around 30°C in others . The heatwave has disrupted daily life across the continent, with red alerts issued in Britain, Spain, and Italy as temperatures soared past 40°C. In Spain, meteorologists warned Tuesday could become the hottest June day on record, with highs reaching 44°C in Andalusia, Basque Country, and Cantabria .

The crisis has taken a deadly toll in France, where at least 40 drowning deaths were reported since the weekend as people sought relief in unsupervised swimming areas . Authorities reported that 20 people drowned in a single day, with the prime minister confirming the grim tally during a national briefing . The heatwave has also strained infrastructure, with schools, trains, and sporting events canceled across France, where air-conditioning remains rare in homes and public buildings.

The crisis meeting led by Lecornu activated the second level of the Orsan health emergency plan to mobilize additional medical resources, as hospitals brace for an influx of heat-related illnesses . The government has also expanded water restrictions in several regions, with officials warning that the heatwave could persist through the week. In neighboring countries, the extreme weather has forced closures of schools and transport networks, while authorities in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland issued red alerts as the heat dome engulfing Europe shows no signs of abating.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 200,000 people have died from heat-related causes across Europe over the past four years, underscoring the growing threat posed by climate change . With temperatures expected to remain dangerously high, officials are urging the public to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors. The current heatwave, already one of the most severe on record, threatens to make 2026 the warmest year ever recorded in Europe.

Source Intelligence

21 sources12 countries

Geographic Origin17 located

4 further sources not geolocated

Political Spectrum15 mapped

Articles

Around 20 drown in France as people seek relief from heatwave Around 20 people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas in France since the weekend, authorities said on Tuesday, as people tried to escape a heatwave sweeping across large parts of Europe. Much of France was set to experience temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, forecaster MeteoFrance said. There have been […]

in-cyprus · about 3 hours ago

Vijelii în București. Meteorologii au actualizat prognoza pentru Capitală Deși a plouat slab marți dimineața, vremea va fi călduroasă în București azi și mâine, potrivit prognozei speciale emise de ANM. Meteorologii avertizează însă că sunt posibile vijelii pe parcursul zilei de miercuri. Marți, vremea va fi călduroasă în Capitală, cu disconfort termic ridicat, iar indicele temperatură umezeală (ITU) va atinge pragul critic de 80 …

hotnews.ro · about 3 hours ago

Ce setări poți face ca să scoți maximul din bateria telefonului tău, în newsletter-ul Good Tech de pe 24 iunie Sunt momente în care pare că bateria telefonului ar fi o resursă misterioasă: uneori rezistă toată ziua, alteori ajunge la 20 înainte de prânz. În realitate, de cele mai multe ori există câțiva vinovați care consumă energie în fundal fără să ne dăm seama. În ediția de mâine, 24 iunie, a newsletter-ului Good Tech, vorbim …

hotnews.ro · about 3 hours ago

Las olas de calor se adelantan en España y seguirán aumentando hasta mediados de siglo España ha registrado un total de 12 olas de calor en junio en el último siglo, de las que seis se han producido desde 2015, lo que evidencia de que estos episodios aparecen ahora a comienzos del verano con mayor frecuencia que en décadas anteriores. Leer

expansion · about 3 hours ago

Jornada reducida o adaptada, excedencia y permiso parental, las herramientas para conciliar trabajo y cuidado de hijos en verano Al llegar el verano las necesidades de conciliación de la vida laboral y familiar se ponen en evidencia más que nunca. Llega el momento para muchos empleados de tener que recurrir a las herramientas que la ley contempla para hacer posible el cuidado de los hijos y demás familiares dependientes a cargo. Leer

expansion · about 3 hours ago

Esami di maturità e caldo record, solo il 7 delle scuole ha impianti di climatizzazione: Il calendario scolastico è pensato per un clima che non esiste più Quando Giacomo Leopardi parlava di sudate carte non poteva immaginare che, due secoli dopo, quellespressione sarebbe risultata più che calzante per descrivere la situazione delle centinaia di migliaia di studenti impegnati negli esami di terza media e di maturità. Con londata di calore che sta investendo lItalia, trovare la concentrazione per sostenere le prove e […] Larticolo Esami di maturità e caldo record, solo il 7 delle scuole ha impianti di climatizzazione: Il calendario scolastico è pensato per un clima che non esiste più proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

il fatto quotidiano · about 3 hours ago

Code rood in steeds meer Europese landen vanwege extreme hitte Waar in Nederland vooralsnog sprake is van code oranje, wordt in steeds meer Europese landen code rood afgegeven wegens extreme hitte.

nu.nl · about 3 hours ago

Grote kans op superhittegolf in zuidoosten van het land Tijdens deze hete week zal het record van langste hittegolf in juni sneuvelen. En daar blijft het niet bij: volgens Weeronline is de kans groot dat in het zuidoosten van het land een superhittegolf komt.

nu.nl · about 3 hours ago

Record-breaking heat threatens Spain as heat dome engulfs Europe Spanish meteorologists warned that Tuesday could become the hottest June day on record as a heat dome pushes temperatures above 40°C (104°F) across much of the country, with red alerts in Andalusia, Basque Country, and Cantabria where highs could reach 44°C (111°F). The heatwave, driven by Saharan air and high-pressure systems, also triggered alerts across France, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

De Grote Hittegids: met deze tips kom je de warme dagen door Wat helpt om af te koelen als het buiten heet is? In deze gids geeft NRC tips om de dag zo aangenaam mogelijk door te komen bij warm weer.

nrc · about 3 hours ago

Temperatures could hit 31 degrees this week, hottest in midlands and west Temperatures are likely to reach 29 degrees today, Met Éireann said.

thejournal · about 3 hours ago

At least 40 people drown in France as 43C heatwave sweeps across country Much of France was set to experience temperatures of around 40C on Tuesday, after records were shattered on Monday

independent · about 3 hours ago

WHO Warns as Ebola Cases Rise Rapidly in Congo Amid Transmission Concerns Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 23 – Brussels Morning Newspaper — Ebola transmission remains at the center of international health concerns after the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the countrys latest Ebola outbreak recorded the highest number of confirmed cases during its first month of any African outbreak. Health authorities have expanded surveillance, contact tracing, treatment […]

brussels morning · about 3 hours ago

Deadly heatwave set to break new records in France and across Europe French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was scheduled to hold a crisis meeting on Tuesday after daytime and nighttime temperatures reached 29.2°C on Monday.

le monde · about 3 hours ago

Europe on red alert for record-breaking heatMore than 20 people have drowned in France and Germany as people seek relief from "oppressive" heat. In Italy, more than a dozen cities are on high alert for extreme heat. DW has the latest. #News #France #Germany #Europe

mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago

[lalibre] Le bilan de la canicule salourdit en France : "40 morts" par noyade depuis le 18 juin #Europe

mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago

Europe heatwave turns deadly: France reports 40 drownings since weekend Forty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas in France since the weekend, the prime minister said on Tuesday, as people tried to escape a heatwave sweeping across much of Europe. Britain, Italy and Spain are also sweltering in extreme heat, with record temperatures in some regions disrupting schools and transport networks. Europe is […]

cyprus mail · about 3 hours ago

France faces historically hot temperatures as heatwave carries on Millions of people across France woke up drenched in sweat on June 23 after another night of scorching heat, with most of the population exposed to extreme and exceptional temperatures. In a country without widespread air-conditioning, schools, trains and sporting events remain impacted, while some 20 drowning deaths have been reported since the weekend. FRANCE 24s Caroline Baum tells us more from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

france24 · about 3 hours ago

France tries to handle extreme temperatures as heatwave carries on France is going through a record heatwave, with 54 departments on high alert. At least 18 people have died from heat related causes. For French people, the main issue is how to cope with these extreme temperatures, especially at night, where they arent dropping below 22 degrees celsius. In some areas, they even stay around 30 degrees.

france24 · about 3 hours ago

Europe heatwave tracker: At least 20 dead in France after temperatures soar to 43C as red alerts issued across Spain European countries are taking several measures as a deadly heatwave grips the continent

independent · about 3 hours ago

Record "super heatwave" in the making: Temps may hold over 30°C through Tuesday The current hot weather in the Netherlands is set to continue until at least Sunday, possibly even Tuesday. That will make this heatwave a new record for the Netherlands.

nltimes.nl · about 3 hours ago

A red alert over France, and heat that may rewrite the record books

gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago

How Europe is grappling with extreme heat as red alerts issued in Britain, France, Spain and Italy Several European countries issued red weather alerts as a fresh bout of extreme heat pushed temperatures beyond 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

cnbc · about 3 hours ago

Europe faces warmest year on record as heatwave batters continent Europeans face sweltering temperatures once again, as another heatwave brings disruption in schools, rail services and sport events, as officials fear heat-related health risks. Temperatures are expected to hit 39 degrees celsius, heading to be the hottest year on record. According to the WHO, over 200 000 people have died from heat-related causes in Europe in the past four years.

france24 · about 3 hours ago

Drowning deaths soar in France as Europe buckles in peak of heatwave Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since last Thursday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says.

bbc · about 3 hours ago

Brussels residents cool off in fountains as heatwave grips Belgium People flocked to fountains in Brussels Parc du Cinquantenaire as temperatures climbed during a heatwave expected to intensify later this week.

euronews · about 3 hours ago

Juist ouderen die nog zelfstandig wonen lopen extra risico door de hitte Op deze warme dagen lopen niet de verpleeghuisbewoners, maar juist de nog zelfstandig wonende ouderen het grootste risico. Vanwege hun zelfstandigheid is het veel lastiger om hen de hitte door te helpen. "Iemand met beginnende dementie zet midden op de dag de ramen open."

nu.nl · about 3 hours ago

Canicule : un footballeur de Ligue 2 en état de mort cérébrale après sêtre noyé à Lyon Le jeune dune vingtaine dannées se baignait avec trois autres personnes lundi 22 juin dans une zone où la baignade est interdite alors que la température avoisinait les 38 °C. Le parquet na pas encore communiqué sur son état de santé.

liberation · about 3 hours ago

EN DIRECT - Canicule : la nuit dernière a été la plus chaude jamais enregistrée en France, «au moins 40 morts» par noyade dans le pays Le thermomètre reste également au plus haut ce mardi pour près de 40 millions de Français, après des records de température lundi et des morts liés à la chaleur. Plus de la moitié de lHexagone est en vigilance rouge, du jamais-vu.

liberation · about 3 hours ago

France records hottest-ever night as 40 drown trying to escape heatwave France struggles with extreme heat and power grid challenges as temperature records also smashed in parts of UK, Spain.

aljazeera · about 3 hours ago