Europe Sizzles Under Intense Heatwave; Eiffel Tower Closes Early

As a severe heatwave grips Western Europe, countries are taking safety precautions.

With the heatwave, which is pushing temperatures near 40°C (104°F), expected to continue for the time being, France will close a large number of schools on Monday, June 22 (local time) out of concern for student health.

Minister of National Education Édouard Geffray appeared on France 3 on Sunday, June 21, and announced that 845 elementary and middle schools would close on Monday, June 22, in areas where a red heatwave alert has been issued.

He added that another 1,800 schools would adjust their class hours to dismiss students early in the afternoon.

According to Météo-France, as of Sunday, June 21, a red alert—the highest level of heatwave warning—has been issued for 35 out of 96 departments in mainland France, while 45 departments are under an orange alert.

This is the highest number of departments ever placed under a red heatwave alert.

Approximately 53 million residents are affected by the heatwave.

Authorities announced that the heatwave would intensify on Monday, June 22, with an additional 14 departments expected to be classified as red alert areas.

Daytime high temperatures in some regions are forecast to reach 40 to 42°C (104 to 108°F).

A French weather channel projected that "the intensity of this heatwave will surpass historic levels," predicting that maximum temperatures could reach up to 44°C (111°F) from Sunday, June 21, through the end of this week.

The annual street music festival scheduled for Sunday also faced inevitable disruptions.

French authorities banned alcohol consumption at festival venues in red alert areas, and some cities canceled scheduled concerts altogether.

The railway network was also affected, with a total of 71 train services, including routes connecting Paris to other regions, canceled on Sunday.

Jean Castex, CEO of the French national railway company (SNCF), said at a press conference on Sunday, "We chose to adjust our operations rather than unnecessarily exposing trains to risk," urging vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly, to refrain from traveling by train.

Operations at the Eiffel Tower were also adjusted.

The Eiffel Tower operating company announced on its website that it would close early at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The French Green Party launched a petition to introduce a "climate leave" system of up to five days per year to protect workers vulnerable to extreme heat.

According to AFP, street cheering events in Spain for the World Cup match between Spain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for Sunday were canceled due to the heatwave.

The Spanish Football Federation had planned to install a giant screen in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid to broadcast the match at 6 p.m., but scrapped the plan as temperatures in the capital region were expected to rise to 40°C (104°F).

Authorities advised football fans to watch the match indoors with air conditioning.

As of Sunday, orange heatwave warnings were issued for 13 of Spain's 17 autonomous communities, while the northern Basque region, bordering France, was placed under a red alert, the highest level.

According to Reuters, Italy also issued a red alert on Sunday for eight cities, including Bologna, Florence, Milan, and Turin, as maximum temperatures exceeded 35°C (95°F).

In Germany, where temperatures soared to 38°C (100°F) in some areas, the meteorological service warned of severe thunderstorms in eastern regions.

In Berlin, heavy rain disrupted an outdoor music festival.

The heatwave is caused by a mass of hot air from North Africa becoming trapped over Western Europe under a strong high-pressure system, forming a heat dome.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.