Large parts of Europe, including France, face power outages amid severe heatwave

PARIS – The large parts of Europe remained under the grip of an intense heatwave on Wednesday, with record-high temperatures, power disruptions and growing pressure on public infrastructure as authorities struggled to cope with prolonged extreme weather conditions. France was among the countries hardest hit by the heatwave. The dozens of people have lost their lives by drowning into water these days. Meteorological authorities reported that the national temperature indicator, which measures average temperatures across multiple monitoring stations, reached its highest level since records began in 1947. Weather agencies warned that temperatures ranging between 39°C and 41°C were expected in several regions, including the Paris area and parts of western and southwestern France. Authorities expanded the highest-level heat alert to additional departments, leaving the vast majority of the country exposed to extreme temperatures. The severe weather also affected electricity supplies. Tens of thousands of households in northwestern France experienced power outages after high temperatures reportedly damaged electrical infrastructure. Utility companies said repair work was underway, but full restoration could take time. The prolonged heat has led to a sharp increase in demand for cooling equipment. Retailers across France reported a surge in sales of fans and air-conditioning units as residents sought relief from the unusually hot conditions. The several European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia and Hungary, also issued heat alerts as temperatures continued to rise. Italian authorities placed a number of major cities under the highest heat warning level, while weather agencies in Central and Eastern Europe cautioned that temperature records could be challenged in the coming days. The public services and tourist attractions have also been affected. Some transport operators introduced service adjustments, while several popular landmarks modified visi