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WEATHER

French heatwave alert extended for south-eastern departments

After a hot day on Friday, which saw some towns approach or top the 40C mark, much of south-eastern France remained on orange alert for a heatwave on Saturday while a flood risk was still in place for the Seine-et-Marne area.

Pedestrians holding umbrellas for protection from the sun, wait in queue to watch an Olympic events in Paris
Pedestrians holding umbrellas for protection from the sun, wait in queue to watch an Olympic events in Paris on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP)

Météo-France extended the orange heatwave alert for six departments on Saturday: Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud.

On Friday, Moulès-et-Baucels, in Hérault, reached 40.3C with other areas only slightly cooler. Villevieille, in Gard saw temperatures of 39.3C with peaks of 39C in Figari, in Corsica.

“On Saturday, temperatures are starting to drop near the Mediterranean and in Corsica”, the forecaster said, noting that highs could still exceed 36C in Var or Corsica.

However, temperatures should approach “seasonal norms” on Sunday, according to the forecaster.

Meanwhile, in Seine-et-Marne, there is still an orange flood alert due to the risk of the Grand Morion breaking its banks.

But the flood alert for Vosges and Meurthe-et-Moselle has now been lifted.

What about the Olympics?

Saturday’s planned mixed relay triathlon training was cancelled on Friday due to storms upstream of the Seine, the organisers and the International Triathlon Federation announced on Friday.

“Given the storms of the last two nights, particularly intense upstream of the Paris basin, and the future deterioration in water quality, the organisers have decided, in advance, to cancel the familiarisation on Saturday 3rd August”, they said in a press release on Friday evening.

Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 27C on Saturday, according to Météo-France.

The cycling and running sections will still go ahead.

The mixed relay event is scheduled for Monday morning with the open water swimming events in the Seine set for August 8th and 9th.

You can follow live Olympics updates here.

Heatwave advice

Everyone is at risk during a heatwave, even those in good health, Météo-France warns on its website, recommending that people working outdoors or those exercising be careful of dehydration and heat stroke.

However, the risk is greater for elderly people, those with chronic illness or mental health problems, people who regularly take medication and those who are isolated, the forecaster said.

READ ALSO ‘Don’t sleep naked’ – How to get a good night’s sleep in a French heatwave

During a heatwave, you should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day (afternoon and early evening), stay in the shade, only exercise during the coolest parts of the day (early morning and late nights), and eat regular meals.

Météo-France uses a four-level level weather warning system, from green which means that there are no immediate weather concerns, to the highest alert level red, which indicates a possible danger to life.

Orange indicates that people should be “very vigilant”. Meanwhile, the moderate yellow level means people should “be attentive” to the impact of heat when playing sports or engaging in other physical activity, according to Météo France.

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WEATHER

Climate crisis: Heat claims ‘175,000 lives a year’ in Europe

Heat kills over 175,000 people a year in Europe, where temperatures are rising quicker than the rest of the globe, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) European branch said this week.

Climate crisis: Heat claims '175,000 lives a year' in Europe

Of the roughly 489,000 heat-related deaths recorded each year by the WHO between 2000 and 2019, the European region accounts for 36 percent, or on average 176,040 deaths, the WHO said.

The health body noted that temperatures in the region are “rising at around twice the global average rate.”

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.

“People are paying the ultimate price,” Hans Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, said in a statement.

According to the WHO, there has been a 30 percent increase in heat-related mortality in the region over the past two decades.

READ ALSO: Which German cities are best prepared for extreme heat?

“Temperature extremes exacerbate chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebro-vascular diseases, mental health, and diabetes-related conditions,” Kluge said.

He added that extreme heat can in particular be a problem for elderly people and be an “additional burden” for pregnant women.

The WHO noted that “heat stress” — which occurs when the human body is no longer able to maintain its temperature — “is the leading cause of climate-related death” in the region.

According to the WHO, the number of heat-related deaths is set to “soar” in the coming years as a result of global warming.

“The three warmest years on record” for the region “have all occurred since 2020, and the 10 warmest years have been since 2007,” Kluge said.

READ ALSO: ‘Coolcations’: Tourists flock to Norway and Sweden to dodge summer heat

On July 25, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that humanity was suffering from an “extreme heat epidemic” and called for action to limit the impacts of heat waves intensified by climate change.

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