A tragic event unfolded in France after two children, aged 2 and 4, died inside a car parked in the southern region of the country amid a severe heatwave spreading over many parts of Europe. Authorities are urgently investigating the children's mother.
The tragedy occurred on Monday local time in the city of Carpentras in southern France. Officials reported that the two children were found unconscious inside the family car parked in a residential parking lot, and the extreme heat is believed to be the primary cause of death.
Emergency services revealed they received the call at about 1:20 p.m. local time. Upon arrival, they found the two children in cardiac arrest. Authorities are currently investigating the mother of the children.
Preliminary data indicates that the average temperature during both day and night in the area reached 29.2 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record set in June 2025.
France's meteorological agency, Météo-France, has extended its red heatwave warning to cover more than half of the administrative regions, affecting around 39 million people. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 43 degrees Celsius in Bordeaux and 39 degrees Celsius in Paris.
Despite government measures to protect students, many parents remain concerned after reports emerged of some children falling ill due to the heat in classrooms.
Health experts are advising the public to avoid direct sunlight, stay well hydrated, and look after vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses during one of Europe's most severe heatwaves this year.
Additionally, the French government has warned people against swimming in natural water bodies like lakes and rivers without supervision, following 13 drowning deaths over the past weekend, including a 13-year-old girl.
The French government is preparing an emergency meeting to address the situation, while several cities have already started measures to assist vulnerable populations.
In Madrid, Spain, where temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius, authorities opened cooling centers for the homeless and at-risk individuals, providing drinking water, food, and hygiene facilities.
In Córdoba, southern Spain, also reaching 40 degrees Celsius, many streets were nearly deserted as residents used umbrellas for shade or ate ice cream to cool down.
In Germany, police reported five deaths from water-related accidents over the past weekend.
Meanwhile, the UK's Met Office issued a red heatwave warning—the highest level—marking only the second time such a warning has been issued in the country. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in some areas on Wednesday and Thursday.
The warning covers wide areas in central and southern England, including London and Birmingham, the two largest cities in the country.
Several schools in southwest England plan to shorten school hours, while some train companies have canceled or adjusted schedules due to the severe weather conditions.
Akshay Deoras, a senior researcher at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in England, stated that this heatwave is linked to human-induced climate change, which has intensified extreme temperatures beyond past occurrences.
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