World

Seven die in France from causes relating to heat wave

By Reuters Reuters

Updated May 26, 2026 1:29 PM

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

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

• The national heat index, which measures the average temperature across the country, reached 24.8 degrees Celsius, Meteo France's preliminary readings at 5 pm on Tuesday showed. This beat 24.6 degrees Celsius on Monday and thus marked the hottest day ever recorded in the month of May nationwide.

• 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; additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon 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 12:59 PM.