A severe heat wave has gripped southwest France, with temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in parts of the Charente and Aude regions. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a massive blaze that scorched 16,000 hectares last week, but officials warn it will take weeks to fully extinguish.
The French national weather authority has placed 12 departments on red alert, France’s highest heat warning, due to exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Residents are taking precautions, with shuttered streets and tourists seeking shade indoors.
The heat wave, the second of the summer, is expected to last all week and push into the Aug. 15 holiday weekend. It has already reached forecast temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius in the Centre-Val de Loire region and 34 degrees Celsius in Paris. The red alert designation gives local officials powers to cancel outdoor events and alter schedules, as it marks only the eighth time since its creation in 2004.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/southwest-france-swelters-heat-wave-fire-crews-guard-124535206