France: France's iconic Eiffel Tower closes early as heatwave grips Paris.

SHOTLIST: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 23, 2026) 1. EIFFEL TOWER (TWO SHOTS) 2. VISITORS NEAR EIFFEL TOWER 3. EARLY CLOSURE WARNING SIGN (TWO SHOTS) 4. EIFFEL TOWER 5. EARLY CLOSURE WARNING SIGN (TWO SHOTS) 6. EMPTY QUEUE WAITING AREA 7. PEOPLE WAITING NEAR EIFFEL TOWERPARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 23, 2026: The Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in the French capital, closed earlier than usual on Tuesday, June 23, as a heatwave affected Paris. The monument, which normally remains open until midnight, ended visits early due to extreme temperatures and concerns for the safety of visitors and staff. France broke more than 100 all-time heat records on Monday as an intense heat wave continued to grip the country, with temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in several regions. A total of 459 heat records were broken or matched nationwide, including 102 all-time records, according to broadcaster BFM. In the southwestern city of Bordeaux, temperatures reached 41.9C (107.4F), the highest level recorded in 106 years of observations. An all-time record was also set in Saintes, where weather records date back 111 years. The latest developments came as France recorded its hottest night in seven years from Sunday night into Monday. The night was reported to be the hottest since the July 2019 heatwave, with the average national temperature standing at around 21.4C (70.5F). In Paris, national weather service Meteo-France also recorded a minimum temperature of 24.2C (75.6F) overnight, breaking a nearly 10-year-old record. The extreme heat is expected to continue, with weather forecasts indicating that temperatures will rise further throughout the week. In the coming nights, temperatures are expected to remain unusually high, ranging between 23C and 26C (73.4-78.8F) in some parts of the country. Several departments across France have been placed under red or orange alerts as a heatwave grips the country, with temperatures expected to rise to around 40C (104F). Meteo-France raised the alert level for Monday, placing 49 departments under red alert and 40 under orange alert. Meteo-France said Monday was the third hottest day ever recorded in France since 1947. The heatwave has also affected daily life, with National Education Minister Edouard Geffray announcing over the weekend that 845 schools would remain closed on Monday due to the extreme heat, while another 1,800 schools would adjust their operating hours. Meanwhile, the national spokesperson for civil security, Jerome Boulanger, told the broadcaster ICI Paris that 13 people have drowned since Saturday. “During this heatwave, cooling down and staying hydrated are very good things, but when people go swimming, it really needs to be in a supervised location,” Boulanger said.