Code red has been issued to eleven departments. In the southwest, people have to take into account a temperature of 43 degrees. The temperature is now between 35 and 39 degrees elsewhere in the country. In combination with drought, the risk of forest fires is very high. In southern Tarn County, according to the governor, the fire brigade was called three times on Saturday.
As far as is known, the intense heat killed at least two elderly people. France Info reports that an 80-year-old man on Burnett Beach, lying on a towel under the scorching sun, has died, possibly from heat stroke. When he stopped moving, the other swimmers sounded the alarm. Attempts to revive him failed. In the same area, an 82-year-old man died while swimming. A transition from outside air of 35 degrees to water, barely 16 degrees, may have been fatal for him.
Météo France expects thunderstorms Saturday night that will move into the country from the Atlantic coast. It can be accompanied by violent lightning and strong winds. The change in weather is likely to end the heat wave, although it may last a little longer in the east.
