France issues 'red' heatwave alert as temperatures climb across Western Europe

France's meteorological agency Météo-France issued its top-tier red heatwave alert for regions covering roughly a third of the country. The government has reinforced hospital staffing and rail operator SNCF has imposed speed limits on some lines. France 24 and ABC News Australia reported that temperatures are forecast to climb further over the next three days.

In Spain, Civil Protection has activated an extraordinary crisis coordination after forecasts of 44°C in Seville and Cordoba. In Italy, the city centres of Rome and Florence have been placed under red alert; the health ministry urged citizens with circulation problems to stay indoors. In southern Germany, emergency-service calls in the Munich and Stuttgart areas have risen by more than 30%.

The European Commission said it could mobilise emergency support to member states via the EU disaster financing pool. The European Environment Agency said the prolonged heat is adding strain to agriculture and the power grid, with some reactors lowering output because of warmer cooling water.