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Fez – France is facing widespread disruption as a record-breaking heatwave continues to grip the country, bringing extreme temperatures, power outages, and growing safety concerns.
Authorities said around 68,000 homes in the western region of Brittany were left without electricity, with full restoration not expected before Wednesday night.
The outages came as temperatures across France were forecast to reach their highest levels of the week.
More than half of the country remains under a red heat alert, and relevant authorities expect temperatures to climb as high as 43°C in parts of southwestern France.
According to Météo France, the country recorded its hottest day on record on Tuesday, with an average temperature of 29.8°C.
The southwestern town of Pissos recorded 44.3°C, while France also experienced its warmest night on record, with average overnight temperatures reaching 29.9°C.
Heat alerts were expanded on Wednesday to cover 58 regions, while another 31 regions remained under orange warnings.
Temperatures of 39°C to 40°C are expected across much of western France, including Paris and Brittany, and are likely to remain high until the weekend.
The heatwave has already had deadly consequences.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou said at least 40 people have drowned in heat-related incidents since last Thursday.
Among the victims were a six-year-old child who drowned at an unsupervised beach near Bordeaux and a 17-year-old girl who died while swimming in a prohibited area near Paris.
Authorities have also warned of a heightened risk of wildfires.
More than 150 firefighters were deployed to contain a major forest fire in the Maine-et-Loire region on Tuesday.
The blaze was brought under control overnight and no injuries were reported.
The extreme heat has affected major tourist sites in Paris.
The Louvre Museum shortened its opening hours, citing concerns over rising temperatures inside the historic building, while the Eiffel Tower closed earlier than usual on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The heatwave is extending across much of Europe. Heat alerts have been issued in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and several countries in eastern Europe.
Temperatures are projected to approach or exceed 40°C in parts of Germany later this week.
Meteorologists expect some relief in France from Friday as temperatures gradually fall.
However, the cooler conditions are forecast to bring thunderstorms, raising the risk of flash floods and large hail.
Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves across Europe, which is warming at roughly twice the global average rate.
