France has now recorded the hottest ever temperature of 113F as Europe scorched in an early summer heat wave already blamed for numerous deaths.
With parts of central Europe, Italy, Spain, and France particularly hit by high temperatures, officials recommended people to take general precautions, complaining that this has not always been the case.
The temperature shot up in a village, Villevielle, located in the southern department of Gard near Montpellier, the same area where a high of 111.4F was set in August 2003.
Previously, the mercury rose higher than 111F in the southeastern town, Carpentras. The town was empty, with café owners mulling over deserted terraces, which otherwise used to remain packed.
Along with North Macedonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Bulgaria, the new record makes France the seventh European country to record at a temperature higher than 113F.
Meteo-France’s Etienne Kapikian claimed that the temperature would continue to rise and, in some places, we may even pass 111F.
On the other hand, the French winemakers have welcomed the heat warmly, stating that this kind of weather has the ability to produce the best vintage.
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, warned that such extreme weather condition may become more frequent due to global warming. He added that the people will have to change their way of working, their set-up, build differently.
In fact, schools have been spraying kids with water and nursing homes are providing the elderly with sensors that determine hydration.
Centralized air conditioning is extremely rare in the country.
Local authorities called off many end-of-school-year carnivals and around 4,000 schools closed since they could not make sure safe conditions.
Some people even criticized the government for going overboard. Nevertheless, the PM defended the efforts post 15,000 deaths in a heat wave in 2003.
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