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| European heatwave: France hits record temperature of 45.9C | European heatwave: France hits record temperature of 45.9C |
| (2 days later) | |
| France has hit its highest recorded temperature - 45.9C (114.6F) - amid a heatwave in Europe that has claimed several lives. | France has hit its highest recorded temperature - 45.9C (114.6F) - amid a heatwave in Europe that has claimed several lives. |
| The new record was measured in the southern village of Gallargues-le-Montueux. Before this year the previous record was 44.1C during a heatwave in 2003 that killed thousands. | The new record was measured in the southern village of Gallargues-le-Montueux. Before this year the previous record was 44.1C during a heatwave in 2003 that killed thousands. |
| Health Minister Agnès Buzyn warned that "everyone is at risk". | Health Minister Agnès Buzyn warned that "everyone is at risk". |
| France's weather service has issued an unprecedented red alert for four areas. | France's weather service has issued an unprecedented red alert for four areas. |
| Those are all in the south, but most of the country remains on orange alert, the second-highest level. | Those are all in the south, but most of the country remains on orange alert, the second-highest level. |
| Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible, caused by high pressure over central Europe and a storm stalling over the Atlantic. | Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible, caused by high pressure over central Europe and a storm stalling over the Atlantic. |
| In Gallargues-le-Montueux, Mayor Freddy Cerda said the record was something the village had to "put up with". | In Gallargues-le-Montueux, Mayor Freddy Cerda said the record was something the village had to "put up with". |
| "We have to put up with this climate, and that's what the future holds for us, don't forget. The south of France is going to become tropical," he said. | "We have to put up with this climate, and that's what the future holds for us, don't forget. The south of France is going to become tropical," he said. |
| Hundreds of schools were closed on Friday and water restrictions were in place. | Hundreds of schools were closed on Friday and water restrictions were in place. |
| Meteorologist Etienne Kapikian tweeted a map showing temperatures had risen above 40C for much of southern France. | Meteorologist Etienne Kapikian tweeted a map showing temperatures had risen above 40C for much of southern France. |
| The French weather service said temperatures of between 37C and 41C were expected across most of France on Saturday. | The French weather service said temperatures of between 37C and 41C were expected across most of France on Saturday. |
| Swaths of the continent are experiencing extreme heat. Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest-ever June temperatures. | Swaths of the continent are experiencing extreme heat. Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest-ever June temperatures. |
| In Spain firefighters have been battling Catalonia's worst wildfires in 20 years. Eight provinces are on red alert while temperatures are expected to rise above 42C in many areas. | In Spain firefighters have been battling Catalonia's worst wildfires in 20 years. Eight provinces are on red alert while temperatures are expected to rise above 42C in many areas. |
| The Italian ministry of health has reported emergency levels of heat in 16 cities. | The Italian ministry of health has reported emergency levels of heat in 16 cities. |
| Loss of life | Loss of life |
| Several people are believed to have lost their lives as a result of the extreme temperatures, including two who died from suspected heatstroke in Spain. | Several people are believed to have lost their lives as a result of the extreme temperatures, including two who died from suspected heatstroke in Spain. |
| One, a 17-year-old farm worker in Córdoba, went into convulsions after cooling down in the farm swimming pool, while an 80-year-old man died on a street in the northern city of Valladolid. | One, a 17-year-old farm worker in Córdoba, went into convulsions after cooling down in the farm swimming pool, while an 80-year-old man died on a street in the northern city of Valladolid. |
| In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said a drowning was taking place every day and warned that the heat was making people "take risks". | In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said a drowning was taking place every day and warned that the heat was making people "take risks". |
| On Thursday a 33-year-old roofer died after being taken ill as he worked on a building site in the western city of Rennes, where the temperature was 35C in the shade. | On Thursday a 33-year-old roofer died after being taken ill as he worked on a building site in the western city of Rennes, where the temperature was 35C in the shade. |
| A six-year-old Syrian child was also in a serious condition after being thrown into the air by the force of a water jet from a fire hydrant that had been opened by residents in Saint Denis, north of Paris. | A six-year-old Syrian child was also in a serious condition after being thrown into the air by the force of a water jet from a fire hydrant that had been opened by residents in Saint Denis, north of Paris. |
| Ms Buzyn urged the public to avoid "risky behaviour" like leaving children in cars or jogging outside in the middle of the day. | Ms Buzyn urged the public to avoid "risky behaviour" like leaving children in cars or jogging outside in the middle of the day. |
| In the UK, police warned people of the dangers of cooling off in rivers and lakes after a 12-year-old girl drowned in the River Irwell in Greater Manchester. | In the UK, police warned people of the dangers of cooling off in rivers and lakes after a 12-year-old girl drowned in the River Irwell in Greater Manchester. |
| Is climate change to blame? | Is climate change to blame? |
| Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. | Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. |
| While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. | While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. |
| Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. | Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. |
| A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. | A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. |
| Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. | Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. |