▲ The Louvre Museum
Europe is suffering from a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures hovering around 40°C (104°F).
In Italy, the highest level of heatwave warning has been issued for major cities, including the capital Rome, while in France, major tourist attractions such as the Louvre Museum, following the Eiffel Tower, are shortening their operating hours.
According to AFP and other news agencies on June 23 (local time), the Italian Ministry of Health issued a red heatwave alert for 15 cities across the country, including Rome and Milan, on Tuesday.
The red heatwave alert is the highest level of warning, issued when the heat is feared to have a negative impact not only on children and the elderly but also on healthy adults.
Health authorities advised citizens to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.
According to the local ANSA news agency, the areas where the red alert was issued on Tuesday include Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Milan, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Verona, Venice, Viterbo, and Ancona.
With a red alert also scheduled to be issued for Latina on June 24, the total number of cities under the red alert is expected to rise to 16.
In major European countries such as France, Spain, the UK, and Germany, a continuous heatwave of around 40°C (104°F) has recently caused widespread disruption, including train cancellations and school closures.
In France, about 40 people are known to have drowned since June 18 amid the consecutive heatwaves.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu shared this during an inter-ministerial crisis meeting on Tuesday, adding that most of the victims were young people.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari also warned on France Inter radio on Tuesday morning, "We must not take swimming in unauthorized areas lightly during a heatwave."
According to Le Figaro, Prime Minister Lecornu also asked ministers and vice-ministers to refrain from business trips this week so that all ministries can focus on responding to the heatwave.
In response to the heatwave, the President of the French National Assembly notified lawmakers that they do not need to wear jackets and ties inside or outside parliament.
Major tourist attractions are also shortening their operating hours due to the heatwave.
The operator of the Eiffel Tower announced that it would close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Eiffel Tower usually operates until 12:45 a.m.
The Louvre Museum also announced in a statement on Tuesday that it will move up its closing time from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m. from June 24 to 27, citing difficult viewing conditions for visitors and working environments for staff.
The museum emphasized that the historic Louvre is "not sufficiently prepared for climate change," adding that "heat accumulates most during the later hours of the day, which is further exacerbated by high visitor density."
The Delacroix Museum also announced that it would close at 4 p.m. from June 24 to 26.
Mont-Saint-Michel, the most visited tourist spot in France outside of Paris, advised tourists to postpone their visits during the red alert period.
In France, as the heatwave that began last week continues to rage day after day, maximum temperature records are being broken one after another.
Météo-France, the national meteorological service, stated that June 23 was recorded as "the hottest day in French history" since weather observations began in 1947.
The national average temperature indicator, which represents the average of day and night temperatures across 30 key observation stations nationwide, recorded 29.8°C (86°F) as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
This figure surpasses the previous record highs of 29.4°C (85°F) recorded on July 25, 2019, and August 5, 2003.
On Tuesday, a red heatwave alert was issued for 54 of the 96 departments in mainland France—more than half—and an orange alert for 35, putting more than 90% of the population under heatwave warnings.
On June 24, red alerts were issued for 58 locations nationwide, and orange alerts for 31 locations.
In the UK, with red alerts issued for large parts of England and Wales on June 24–25, at least 312 schools are closed this week, the BBC reported.
In addition, Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR), the UK's largest rail operator, announced that it would reduce train services on June 24–25 due to speed restrictions caused by high temperatures, asking passengers to "only travel if absolutely necessary."
Wembley Stadium decided to distribute free sunscreen and sell bottled water at half price for Tuesday evening's concert.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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