Power cuts hit northern France as heatwave drives record temperatures
About 68,000 homes lost power in northwestern France as a heat-linked transformer fault struck during a record heatwave. Generators were rushed to retirement homes.
Power failed for about 68,000 households in northwestern France as crews raced on Wednesday to restore electricity through a blistering heatwave that had left homes sweltering and emergency services under strain. The outage in western Brittany, including Finistère, was tied to a heat-related transformer incident that was accidental. Healthcare centres and other critical sites were put first, and generators were supplied to retirement homes. No injuries were reported.
The blackout landed as Météo-France placed 54 mainland departments, roughly half the country, under a red heatwave alert affecting about 39 million people. Météo-France provisional data put the national thermal indicator at 29.3C, France's hottest day ever and hottest night on record during the same spell. Temperatures above 40C were recorded in some cities, and Paris was forecast to top 40C for the first time on a June day.
Schools have been disrupted, trains and sporting events have been thrown off schedule, and demand for fans and portable air conditioners has surged as households try to cope with the heat indoors and outdoors. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 40 people had drowned across the country since June 18 while trying to cool off in rivers, lakes and other waters.
Restoration was expected to continue through Wednesday, and heat was forecast to last until at least the end of the week.
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