France has taken a series of emergency measures to deal with the African heat wave that has engulfed much of Europe.
Authorities have banned outdoor sports and public drinking. Temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to the National Meteorological Service.
Meanwhile, for Sunday, June 21, a red alert has been declared for one third of the country's territory.
Over 26 million people live in areas classified as at maximum risk. Forecasters warn that the situation is expected to worsen in the coming days, with temperatures continuing to rise.
The lack of air conditioning systems in most buildings in France remains a major challenge for the population.
Due to the extreme heat, mayors in several cities have decided to close schools during the afternoon hours as a protective measure for children.
The Élysée Palace's main focus is on the elderly. During the 2003 heat wave, around 15,000 elderly people died in France.
According to data from the World Health Organization, extreme heat has caused around 200,000 deaths across Europe over the last 4 years.
The WHO has warned that this summer's months are expected to record temperatures above the historical average.