Two young children tragically lost their lives after being discovered in a vehicle during an intense heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40C in Europe.
The children, aged two and four, were found unresponsive in a family car parked in a garage in the Bois de l’Ubac neighborhood of Carpentras, France. Despite efforts from emergency services to resuscitate them, both children succumbed.
Reports suggest that the children entered the car without their 33-year-old mother’s knowledge and became trapped inside. Authorities were informed of the incident at 1:10 pm, and emergency services remain present at the property.
The public prosecutor of Carpentras, Hélène Mourges, mentioned to local media that the cause of death is still under investigation, with the heatwave being the primary suspected factor.
France is currently grappling with a week of record-breaking temperatures, enduring scorching conditions with daytime highs exceeding 40C. The national weather service, Meteo France, indicated that a significant part of the country is entering a prolonged period of extreme heat, expected to persist until Friday.
Several towns in western and central France, including Saint-Nazaire, recorded their hottest night ever on Sunday to Monday, with temperatures not dropping below 23.2C. Paris also experienced its warmest June night, staying above 24.2C, setting a new record. Meteo France warned of even hotter nights to come, with unprecedented heat levels anticipated across the majority of the country on Wednesday and Thursday.
A considerable portion of France, encompassing over half of its regions, is under a “red alert” due to the extreme heat, with projections of temperatures exceeding 40C and nighttime lows not falling below 20C.
In the UK, the Met Office issued a rare “red” weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday, cautioning that temperatures could surpass 37C in the shade and reach up to 40C in parts of England and Wales. The Met Office also highlighted the risks associated with extreme temperatures, including potential failures of heat-sensitive equipment like power and mobile phone services.
Dr. Will Lang, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, emphasized the forecasted extreme temperatures in the upcoming days, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday, with maximum temperatures expected to reach the high 30s. He also expressed concerns about very high overnight temperatures, which could be uncomfortable for vulnerable groups, along with very humid conditions.
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