France: France endures record heat as heatwave grips Europe.

SHOTLIST: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 24, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS USING UMBRELLAS AND FANS 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEEKING SHADE IN PARIS / SEINE RIVER 3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILLING THEIR BOTTLES WITH WATER 3. VARIOUS OF CROWDS IN CITY STREETS, AROUND NOTRE DOME CATHEDRAL DURING HOT WEATHER 4. VARIOUS OF TEMPERATURE DISPLAYSPARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 24, 2026: France experienced what authorities described as the country’s hottest day on record as a heatwave continued to affect large parts of Europe, with temperatures over 40 degrees. Extreme temperatures were reported across the country, while thousands of households were left without electricity amid the severe weather conditions. Paris announced the activation of level four of its heat wave plan, reserved for "extreme heatwave" conditions, allowing the mobilization of all municipal services and partner organizations to support residents during the hot spell. A monitoring unit bringing together city services has also been established to adapt response measures as weather conditions evolve. Cooling rooms have been opened in all district town halls during opening hours, while city officials highlighted the availability of nearly 1,400 cool spaces across the Paris metropolitan area. Parks and gardens will be open throughout the night to provide relief from the heat. Weather authorities announced that 14 additional departments will be placed under a red heat wave alert from Thursday, bringing the number affected to 72. The newly added departments are mainly located in northeastern and eastern France, including Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle and the Jura region. Only seven departments in mainland France will remain under lower-level yellow or orange alerts. The UFML-S doctors' union urged independent practitioners to extend or shift consultation hours to help patients avoid traveling during the hottest parts of the day. On Tuesday, the Lot-et-Garonne and Maine-et-Loire departments also experienced wildfires that burned hundreds of hectares. The fire burned 88 hectares (217 acres) before being contained, the prefect of Lot-et-Garonne said on X. The prefect of Finistere also announced stricter restrictions on fire use across 42 municipalities, including a ban on all burning of standing vegetation—except for firefighting operations—as well as campfires and cooking fires. Around 4,000 households in the southeastern Vaucluse department were also left without power, according to broadcaster BFMTV. Meanwhile, disruptions were reported at Paris Montparnasse station, with train delays piling up for both departures and arrivals.