The Albany Gazette - France hosts street music festival despite worsening heatwave

In a first, the red alert -- France's highest heat warning -- was issued across half the country for Monday, as temperatures under the fierce heatwave were expected to climb further.

Thirty-five departments -- roughly a third of the country -- were under the highest heat alert on Sunday. On Monday, that number will grow to 49 departments, a new record, with another 40 under orange alert.

According to AFP estimates, more than 90 percent of France's population -- more than 63 million people -- will be affected by the heat on Monday.

"We are facing an episode that is particularly intense and unusually early," said Mathieu Lefevre, the minister for ecological transition, urging a "great deal of caution".

President Emmanuel Macron on X urged French people to "look out for others", especially the elderly, children and isolated or vulnerable people.

Weather service Meteo-France warned that temperatures could reach as high as 41C in some places on Sunday as France finds itself at the epicentre of a heat anomaly also affecting southern Britain, Spain and Portugal.

Despite the worsening heatwave France hosted the annual Fete de la Musique, when musicians take over streets as revellers celebrate the start of summer late into the night.

- Street parties -

While some French cities have cancelled street events, celebrations in others -- including Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg -- were largely going ahead.

The Louvre museum in Paris, though, announced that its planned free concert under its famous glass pyramid had been scrapped due to the heatwave.

To minimise health risks and prevent potential public disturbances, the government announced a ban on alcohol consumption in public places during the festivities in departments under red alert.

Some Parisians were in favour of the ban.

"I think it's a good thing," said Hailey Infante, 21.

"Honestly, it's really hot, and even a drop of alcohol can quickly go to your head."

Nicolas Pilc was more sceptical, saying the measure would have "absolutely no effect".

"Everyone will do whatever they want," said the 48-year-old.

- Schools closed -

The government said it would be up to local event organisers to adapt festivities outside red-alert areas but alcohol will not be served at state-organised events.

Bartender Mona Jaffart said her establishment would not be selling takeaway alcohol and it would "just be a normal day" inside.

Last year, around two million people attended the June 21 street music parties in Paris alone, many of them travelling from Britain.

To ensure public safety, authorities have deployed 4,800 police officers and gendarmes, along with 2,500 firefighters, in and around the capital.

Gatherings along the lower banks of the Seine river will be prohibited to reduce the risk of people falling into the water.

Officials warned about risks linked to swimming, after four teenagers drowned in France on Saturday.

The number of departments on red alert has reached a record high, surpassing the previous peak of 20 recorded on July 24–25, 2019.

Thirteen of the 17 regions of neighbouring Spain were on orange alert on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France was on red alert.

The public screening of Spain's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid was cancelled after national weather agency AEMET forecast temperatures could reach 40C in the capital.

Portugal's weather agency placed three inland districts on orange alert, warning of temperatures of up to 42C.

In Britain, the Met Office expanded its amber extreme heat warning for much of England for between Monday and Thursday, forecasting some places could reach 37C or more.

(K.Jones--TAG)