Western Europe Braces for Sizzling Heatwave as Temperatures Soar

A severe heatwave is gripping western Europe, with more than half of France's population under a severe weather warning. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution, particularly when it comes to vulnerable individuals such as the elderly. His warning comes as a 30-year-old man died from cardiac arrest on an athletics track near Paris, prompting the cancellation of trains and the rescheduling of exams. The French national weather service has issued an orange heatwave alert for 53 of the country's 96 mainland departments, affecting 36 million people. Temperatures are expected to reach 40C in many regions, including Paris, by early next week. The heatwave is France's second extreme temperature event of the year, following an unusually hot spell in May that shattered local and national records. Neighboring countries, including Spain and Germany, are also experiencing soaring temperatures, with heatwaves expected to last until next Wednesday or Thursday. In Spain, temperatures are forecast to exceed 35C across the Iberian peninsula, while in Germany, authorities have issued heat warnings and advised people to avoid physical activity. The heatwave has already led to disruptions, including the cancellation of Sunday's Fête de la Musique festivities in several French municipalities and the declaration of a 'heat-free day' in German schools, where lessons were cut short due to unmanageable temperatures.