Paris. France is putting emergency services and the military on alert for the threat of wildfires, as well as banning drinking in public and canceling some outdoor sporting events to deal with the extreme heat that is hitting parts of Europe.
Nearly a third of France is under the National Weather Service’s ‘heat red alert’ on Sunday with extremely high temperatures across the country. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in some areas on Sunday, while air conditioning is not used much in this country. Even more heat is expected on Monday.
National and local authorities have taken a number of measures to reduce the risk, including installing ‘misting stations’ (machines that emit cool spray) at the Eiffel Tower and elsewhere in Paris to keep crowds cool.
WHO’s Europe office has asked countries and organizations to implement ‘heat plans’, such as opening cooling centers or offering breaks between work or introducing flexible shifts, so that workers can avoid the hot afternoon sun.
The annual ‘Music Day’ in France on Sunday is a matter of particular concern for the authorities. This nationwide celebration of the longest day of summer (summer solstice) involves thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and clubs across Paris, bringing people together and attracting large numbers of foreign tourists.
The government ordered organizers of Music Day events to limit alcohol use to ‘reduce pressure on emergency services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable.’
Officials are particularly concerned about people who live on the streets in the scorching heat, and the elderly who live in nursing homes or live alone in their homes. In the year 2003, about 15,000 elderly people died in the scorching heat, which proved to be a big lesson for France.
The government on Saturday announced plans to strengthen wildfire preparations and ordered closer monitoring of water supplies to several French nuclear reactors.
The government said that the decision to close schools will be taken as a last option. However, the year-end examinations scheduled in the afternoon can be postponed till the next morning or their timing can be changed.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called a government meeting on the heat crisis on Saturday and plans to hold another meeting on Sunday. The move comes after the National Weather Service warned of a ‘widespread, prolonged and intense’ heat wave. Lecornu instructed government ministers to draw up plans to better prepare France for future heatwaves, including ‘using air conditioning when necessary’.
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