Forty-nine of France’s 96 regions are under red heat alert, as the country braces for sweltering temperatures due to an intensifying heatwave.
Temperatures above 40C are expected on Monday in parts of western France, with the mercury expected to reach 43C in Bordeaux, according to forecaster Météo-France.
Some 845 schools have been closed for the day, while another 1,800 are allowing students to finish classes early, according to the Education Ministry.
Dozens of other regions are under orange alert, with an estimated total of 63 million people affected across the country.
The extreme weather conditions follow a weekend in which the mercury reached 40C, leading to a ban on alcohol during the Fête de la Musique, an annual national festival that sees large crowds celebrate in the streets of most cities.
In the southwest of Gironde, local authorities announced on Sunday that three people, aged between 80 and 95, had died, partly due to the intense heat.
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told French public channel TV1 Info on Monday that many “citizens will suffer” during the extreme heat, and called on the population to keep “a close eye” on their loved ones and neighbors.
While the hottest temperatures are expected on the west coast, maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 36°C to 40°C in much of the rest of the country, Météo-France said.
The forecaster warned the heatwave would be “widespread, lasting and intense” – with temperatures not expected to drop until the end of the week.
National rail operator SNCF urged “vulnerable” people to avoid or postpone train travel this week, while in Paris several train lines reduced services on Monday due to the heat.
The Belgian rail operator also announced that some rush hour trains would be canceled for Monday and Tuesday.
Record temperatures are also expected across Europe, with Madrid expected to reach 39°C while in Italy it is forecast to reach 37°C in Rome.