48 people dead as France records hottest day ever

France registered its hottest day on record on Wednesday as an intense heatwave continued to grip large parts of western Europe, bringing extreme temperatures, power outages and deaths.

The severe weather disrupted daily life across the country, with thousands of homes in northern France losing electricity. Authorities also reduced visiting hours at major tourist sites, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, due to the intense heat.

Weather warnings remained in place across several European countries, including United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where authorities also reported disruptions to schools and transport.

In southwestern France, temperatures climbed to 44.3 degrees Celsius in the Landes region, marking one of the highest readings in the country’s history.

France’s national thermal indicator, which measures average day and night temperatures across 30 weather stations, reached 29.8 degrees Celsius — the highest ever recorded.

Officials said at least 48 people have drowned in France in recent days, many while trying to cool off in rivers, lakes and other water bodies during the extreme heat.

In a separate incident, prosecutors in the southern town of Carpentras said two children died after being left inside a car during the high temperatures.

The latest heatwave has once again raised concerns over climate change, as Europe faces more frequent and intense summer heat events.