European heat wave triggers bans, school closures and over 1,000 deaths in Spain
France and Spain imposed emergency measures as a severe heat wave swept across much of Europe, leading to record temperatures and more than 1,000 heat-related deaths in Spain. CBS News reported that France placed parts of the country under a red heat alert, prohibiting public drinking and limiting outdoor events as temperatures approached 104 °F. AP News added that the ban on public alcohol consumption was accompanied by school closures and the mobilisation of emergency services. DW. com explained that a high-pressure system from the Sahara pushed temperatures above 39 °C in several European regions, prompting transport cancellations and the suspension of outdoor events. NBC News noted that three elderly people died in France, prompting further school closures and red alerts across both France and Spain. CNN described a second extreme heat wave affecting 26 European nations, with temperatures again exceeding 104 °F, leading to additional school closures, alcohol bans and record-breaking forecasts. Al Jazeera reported roughly 20 deaths in France linked to drowning in unsupervised waters and other heat-related fatalities, while CBS later said the death toll from drownings rose to at least 40.
CNN noted that limited air-conditioning capacity increased health risks, and the BBC said France recorded its hottest day since 1947, triggering power cuts. The New York Times linked the heat wave to more than 200 excess deaths in Spain, power outages and strained infrastructure, attributing the extreme temperatures to climate change. CBS also reported that Paris banned public alcohol sales and take-away alcohol until the heat-wave alert ended to reduce hospital admissions. AP News and DW. com documented a surge in heat-related deaths across Europe, with France’s public health agency estimating about 1,000 excess deaths over a three-day spell. Finally, DW. com reported that Spain experienced its hottest January-June period on record, with more than 1,000 heat-related fatalities during the June heat wave, making the first half of the year the warmest in the country’s history.
