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Seven die in France from causes relating to heat wave

By Reuters Reuters
A worker sprays water on people passing by in Buttes Chaumont park, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees Celsius, during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
A worker sprays water on people passing by in Buttes Chaumont park, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees Celsius, during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson Tom Nicholson Reuters

PARIS - Seven people have died in France, directly or indirectly due to the heat wave, French Junior Energy Minister Maud Bregeon said on Tuesday, a day after the national weather service recorded the hottest May day in French history.

• Five of the seven fatalities were people drowning in lakes, rivers or beaches, Bregeon said.

• The government has ordered local authorities to take measures to protect people during sporting events, she said.

• France has been experiencing higher-than-average temperatures since Saturday.

• Most of Brittany has been under an orange level warning by weather service Meteo France, which expects temperatures to reach up to 36 degrees Celsius (96.8° Fahrenheit) on Tuesday afternoon.

• The heat wave is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, Meteo France said on its website.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Jan Harvey and Bernadette Baum)

A boat passes people sitting on the banks of the Seine River, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
A boat passes people sitting on the banks of the Seine River, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson Tom Nicholson Reuters
People gather on a terrace on the Canal de l'Ourcq, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
People gather on a terrace on the Canal de l'Ourcq, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson Tom Nicholson Reuters
People walk along the Canal de l'Ourcq while another person jumps off a bridge into the canal, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees Celsius, during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson
People walk along the Canal de l'Ourcq while another person jumps off a bridge into the canal, as temperatures reached up to 35 degrees Celsius, during a period of hot weather in Paris, France, May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson Tom Nicholson Reuters

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 8:25 AM.

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