PARIS: Large parts of France have been hit by power outages as an intense heatwave continues to grip Europe, with record-breaking temperatures placing widespread pressure on energy systems, public health services, and infrastructure across the continent.
Authorities said tens of thousands of households were left without electricity in north-western France after a heat-related transformer failure, marking one of the first major disruptions linked to the ongoing spell of extreme weather.
The incident occurred in the Finistère department, where officials confirmed that around 68,000 homes were affected. Although repair work continued overnight, full restoration of power was not expected until later on Wednesday.
The outage comes as France and much of Europe face an unprecedented surge in temperatures driven by persistent atmospheric conditions that trap hot air over large areas for extended periods. Scientists have linked the severity and frequency of such heatwaves to human-induced climate change.
France’s national temperature indicator, which averages readings from 30 monitoring stations, reached 29.8°C on Tuesday — the highest level recorded since measurements began in 1947.
On Wednesday, authorities placed four additional French departments under the highest heat alert level, while 31 others remained on orange alert. As a result, more than 44 million people are now affected, with over 90 per cent of the population exposed to extreme heat conditions.
Temperatures ranging between 39°C and 41°C are forecast across large parts of the country, stretching from Brittany to the Paris region and into the south-west.
The extreme conditions have also placed heavy strain on public infrastructure, with electricity demand surging as households and businesses attempt to cope with rising temperatures. Sales of cooling equipment, including fans and air conditioners, have increased sharply across France.
Retailers reported extraordinary demand, with major supermarket chains and online platforms recording dramatic spikes in sales compared with normal levels. In some cases, demand has multiplied many times over seasonal averages.
Across Europe, several countries have issued heat-related warnings. Italy’s health ministry placed 16 cities, including Milan and Rome, under red alert, while Poland issued high-level warnings for western regions where temperatures could approach historic records.
Croatia’s Adriatic coast has also been placed under red alert, with Hungary escalating its heat warning to the highest level as conditions are expected to intensify further.
Meteorological agencies have warned that the heatwave could extend into eastern Europe in the coming days, with little immediate relief expected for much of the region.
The Netherlands has issued a code orange alert, while authorities in Amsterdam have introduced measures including free access to public swimming pools and reduced train services to ease pressure on infrastructure.
In Britain, education authorities have also raised concerns, with school leaders warning that many institutions are struggling to cope with extreme classroom temperatures and lack adequate cooling systems.
Public life has also been disrupted in several cities, with tourist sites introducing restrictions on visiting hours to protect visitors and staff. Some cultural landmarks in Belgium have also adjusted operating schedules in response to the conditions.
Experts say the current heatwave is significantly intensified by climate change
Experts say the current heatwave is significantly intensified by climate change, with studies suggesting that temperatures across the region would have been several degrees lower in the absence of human-driven global warming.
While some western areas of Europe may see slight relief in the coming days, forecasters have warned that much of the continent will continue to experience dangerous levels of heat through the end of the week.
