Paris: Nine French departments were placed under the highest-level red heat wave alert for Friday as extreme temperatures continued to fuel wildfire risks across the country, officials said Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the national weather service, Meteo-France, announced that the red alert would take effect at midday. This warning covers the departments of Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Morbihan, Sarthe, Deux-Sevres, Vendee, and Vienne. Additionally, another 76 departments were placed under orange heat wave warnings, indicating the widespread impact of this weather phenomenon.
Authorities have cautioned that temperatures will remain exceptionally high throughout the weekend. Forecasts predict temperatures soaring up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in Nantes on Saturday and around 42 degrees Celsius in Mont-de-Marsan on Sunday. Meanwhile, firefighters are tirelessly working to control several wildfires across France, exacerbated by the intense heat.
In the southeastern Drome region, a wildfire that began a week ago near Die in mountainous terrain appeared to have stopped spreading as of Thursday. The local prefecture reported that the blaze has consumed 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres), and nearly 450 firefighters, supported by aerial resources, are working to contain it. In the southwestern Landes region, another blaze in the commune of Vielle-Saint-Girons was contained after burning approximately seven hectares. Officials noted that the fire started in dry grass before spreading to the surrounding pine forests.
The extreme heat has also taken a toll on animals, with veterinary emergency services reporting a significant 56.8% increase in heatstroke-related animal deaths during the June heat wave. Furthermore, in the Aude department, authorities introduced restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption late Thursday due to the high temperatures and a scheduled France-Morocco football match in the World Cup. The prefecture has banned the takeaway sale of certain strong alcoholic drinks, as well as their consumption in public areas, warning that the combination of alcohol consumption and extreme heat significantly increases the risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.