France restricts public drinking and outdoor sports as heat wave bakes parts of Europe

By — Angela Charlton, Associated Press Angela Charlton, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/france-restricts-public-drinking-and-outdoor-sports-as-heat-wave-bakes-parts-of-europe Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter France restricts public drinking and outdoor sports as heat wave bakes parts of Europe World Jun 21, 2026 12:10 PM EDT PARIS (AP) — France sizzled Sunday, canceling trains, concerts and sports events and cracking down on public drinking as an exceptional heat wave unfurled across parts of Europe. Multiple drownings were reported as people sought relief in whatever water they could find. About a third of France is under "red alert" heat and temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures introduced by authorities to minimize risks. Tourists in Rome dunked in fountains. Spain's Basque Country canceled some sports and cultural events. READ MORE: Parts of Europe swelter in record May heat as deaths at amateur sports events spur warnings More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organization's Europe office said this month. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. Human-caused climate change is tied to increasing extreme weather events and U.N. climate agency projections say the next five years should shatter more heat records. A rapid study found that human-caused climate change was responsible for killing about 1,500 people in an unusually early European heat wave in May. In this latest European hot spell, French media reported that four children drowned Saturday. Summer drownings are an annual problem that health authorities say worsens during hot spells. Solstice parties draw large crowds in extreme heat France's annual Music Day on Sunday was of particular concern. The nationwide summer solstice celebration involves thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and Paris clubs, bringing communities together and increasingly drawing British and other international visitors. Some of the concerts outside Paris were canceled. The French government banned public drinking in ''red alert″ zones, and ordered organizers of music day events to limit alcohol consumption to "preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable." READ MORE: How to avoid heat-related illness and stay cool this summer Scores of French trains were canceled, and the national rail authority dispatched thousands of extra staff to deal with potential problems as the heat threatened rails and electrical