France suffocates, 14 departments on maximum alert

France continues to suffocate with 14 Southwest and Center-East Departments in Red A heatwave on Tuesday, an exceptional heat wave, even for a month of August, which pushes the authorities to multiply the precautionary measures.

The Rhône. Nevertheless, Isère, Drôme and Ardèche join the 10 departments of the Southwest at noon already placed on maximum alert since Monday. However, At 6:00 am, Charente and Charente-Maritime were returned to orange vigilance, like two thirds of the country.

In Lyon, the Mercury crossed the 30 ° C mark from 10:00 am. Therefore, “It is suffocating. However, there is no air, that concrete,” notes Andréa 21 years old, who approaches pedestrians for the benefit of an association. Therefore, A heat wave obliges, its schedules have been adapted: “We stop at 2:00 pm. Consequently, Anyway, there is no one on the streets.”

The day after a day marked by france suffocates, 14 departments maximum several temperature records (41.6 ° C in Bordeaux, 41.4 ° C in Bergerac …), the thermometer should go up to 42 ° C in Ardèche and 40 ° C on the Atlantic coast.

“Is already too hot,” notes Alain Bichot, 34, a good morning at the terrace in Dijon, on orange vigilance. Similarly, “I still prefer to go to the office. At least there is the air conditioning,” he said with a smile.

Red vigilance will be lifted on Wednesday on the Southwest departments. except Aude, at 6:00 am, but will be maintained in the Rhône valley until midnight, according to Météo-France.

The powerful heat wave also sparked red alerts in Italy. several regions of the Balkans, which, with the Iberian peninsula, are fighting against violent fires. Part of the Spanish tourist site of Las Médulas. listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has already been ravaged by the flames.

– Malaysi –

While france suffocates, 14 departments maximum the episode should be extended. “there will be an increase in discomfort and other reasons directly or indirectly linked to heat,” warned the secretary general of the Association of Emergenists of France, Franck Becker, on RTL on Tuesday.

During the first heat wave in June. which lasted 16 days, Public Health France noted 480 “excess” deaths compared to normal in France.

Despite her 86 years, Régine Blachère ensures that the heat is well supported. “But I am not silly. I do not go out at 40 ° C, I am not looking for the drama,” she explains while waiting for the opening of a store in a Lyonnaise street.

Faced with risks. the authorities multiply preventive measures: the Rhône prefect suspended external sites and prohibits any public demonstration outside or in non -air -conditioned establishments until evening.

The municipalities also reacted: Lyon has established the free of its air-conditioned museums. authorizes to sleep in france suffocates, 14 departments maximum one of the city parks, Bordeaux opened a home center in the homeless. “Power. without pressure, rest in a cool place, is a happiness,” said William, a thirty -something on the street on Monday for months.

– Dangerous world –

“Smart. longer and more frequent heat waves are a predictable consequence of the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, mainly due to our use of fossil fuels,” Richard Allan, professor at the British University of Reading, told AFP.

The extreme weather episodes “will continue to worsen gradually until we master” these programs. he adds, insisting on the need to “prepare for a more dangerous world”.

Already. the heat peak contributes to the deterioration of air quality and increases the risk of forest fires, especially on the southern part of the country.

In the Bordeaux vineyard. the scorching episode lets fear “a drop in yield”, before the start of the harvest, fears Laurence Rival, france suffocates, 14 departments maximum president of the AOC Bergerac.

France has been undergoing since Friday its 51st heat wave since 1947 and its second in the summer of 2025. According to Météo-France. it should last “at least until August 15” and could even “undoubtedly” continue until August 19 or 20, which makes “the overall episode could last from 12 to 14 days”.