France closes 845 schools and bans alcohol at Fête de la Musique as red heat alert covers 35 departments

Red alert and temperature records

Météo France placed 35 departments under red alert from midday Sunday 21 June, the highest level, with another 45 departments under orange alert. The red classification signifies an exceptional heatwave by duration, intensity and geographical extent, carrying "strong health impact for the entire population" and broader societal effects, according to the weather agency. The vigilance system was created in 2004 after the catastrophic 2003 heatwave. Under red alert, prefects can restrict or ban large gatherings, and nurseries, leisure centres and holiday camps may be told to cancel outdoor activities. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C in many areas on Sunday, with values of up to 41°C recorded locally, and are expected to climb further on Monday, ranging from 37°C to 42°C.

School closures and flexible schedules

Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced on Sunday morning that 845 schools and collèges will not open on Monday. "845 schools and collèges will be closed", Geffray said in a television interview. A further 1,800 institutions will operate with flexible hours, dismissing students by early afternoon. The schools affected are predominantly in the red-alert territories. The government had previously said school closures would be a last resort, but the extreme forecast forced the measure.

845 schools and collèges will be closed.

Alcohol ban and the Fête de la Musique

The annual Fête de la Musique, which draws millions to open-air concerts across the country, has been a particular concern for authorities. The Prime Minister's office announced after a crisis meeting on Saturday that alcohol consumption is banned at state-organised events in all red-alert zones. "For all events organised by the State and its bodies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol", the office said. Public alcohol consumption on the streets of those areas is also prohibited, and event organisers are ordered to limit alcohol to "preserve emergency services and allow medical teams to focus on caring for the most vulnerable".

For all events organised by the State and its bodies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol.

Emergency measures and historical context

The government placed emergency services and military units on alert for forest fires, cancelled several outdoor sports events, and strengthened monitoring of water supplies for the country's nuclear reactors. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris landmarks installed misting stations to cool crowds. Particular concern is directed at the homeless and elderly; around 15,000 elderly people died in the 2003 French heatwave. More than 200,000 people across Europe have died from heat-related causes in the last four years, most of them avoidable, the WHO Regional Office for Europe said this month. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Saturday and is expected to hold another on Sunday, ordering ministers to draw up plans for better heatwave adaptation in the future.

more than 200,000 people across Europe have died from heat-related causes in the last four years, and most deaths were avoidable.