Two children aged four and two have been found dead in their family's car in south-eastern France, as a ferocious heatwave sweeps across western Europe. The local prosecutor, Hélène Mourges, said the heat is the leading line of inquiry, with temperatures in Carpentras expected to exceed 39C.
The deaths follow those of three elderly people near Bordeaux over the weekend due to extreme temperatures, and 13 drowning accidents. French authorities placed half the country on a level 1 danger-to-life warning, urging 35 million people to exercise absolute vigilance. Temperatures in western and central France are likely to exceed 40C, with 43C forecast in Bordeaux.
France's national heat index hit its highest level for June on Monday. More than 1,300 schools were closed nationwide, and 4,000 rescheduled classes. One in 10 regional train services around Paris were cancelled due to fears for rolling stock and tracks.
Spain declared its first official heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecast to reach 44C. Germany suspended the Berlin Open tennis tournament due to severe thunderstorms. Belgium expects its hottest ever temperatures, while the UK issued an extreme heat warning for southern England and Wales, predicting up to 39C.
Italy issued heatwave red alerts for 12 cities. Scientists have linked the extreme weather to climate change, warning that such events are becoming more frequent and intense.
