Heat wave in France: forest fires and heat deaths - "Really exceptional situation"

Created: 06/19/2022, 06:16

By: Patrick Huljina

France is currently struggling with record temperatures.

The heat wave reaches its peak on Saturday - with forest fires and, unfortunately, deaths.

Paris - High temperatures in June are not uncommon in France.

But the extent of the current heat wave is unusual.

At the peak on Saturday (June 18), peak temperatures of up to 43 degrees were expected.

"It is a really exceptional situation," said the weather service Météo France.

It can be assumed that absolute heat records would be broken.

Temperatures of 35 to 39 degrees were expected across the board.

In connection with the severe drought that has lasted for a long time, there was a great risk of forest fires.

Again and again the fire brigade moved out to sources of fire in nature.

In the southern French department of Tarn, three fires broke out on Saturday alone, as the prefecture announced.

Heatwave in France: Two pensioners die

Already on Friday (June 17) two pensioners died in extreme heat on the west coast at Pornichet beach.

This was reported by the broadcaster France Info.

An 80-year-old lay on his towel around 2 p.m. in the blazing sun.

When he stopped moving, other beachgoers called for help.

The man apparently suffered heat stroke.

The lifeguard was unable to revive him.

Two hours later, an 82-year-old collapsed dead in the water.

With a water temperature of 16 degrees and an air temperature of 35 degrees, a deadly cold shock was suspected.

Shady places are in great demand: the temperatures in France sometimes exceed the 40 degree mark.

© Laurent Cipriani/dpa

Heat wave in France: severe weather expected on Sunday night

From the night of Sunday (June 19), storms coming from the Atlantic coast are expected in France, which will later affect other parts of the country.

Locally, these storms could be accompanied by violent gusts of wind and strong thunderstorms.

An end to the heat wave is also expected.

Only in eastern France - in the direction of the German border - could the very high temperatures last longer.

France is not the only European country currently being hit by record heat.

In Spain, the worst June heat wave since 1950 is also causing forest fires.

In Germany, too, people work up a sweat at the weekend.

The German Weather Service issued two heat warnings for Bavaria.

However, the high temperatures could be followed by violent thunderstorms.