France heatwave drives Parisians to sleep in parks as child dies in locked car

Residents in Paris spent the night in public parks to escape stifling apartments as an unprecedented June heatwave continued to grip France on Thursday, while authorities investigated the death of a three-year-old boy who became trapped inside a family car, the latest in a series of heat-related tragedies.

The exceptional heatwave has pushed temperatures above 40°C in several parts of the country, forced thousands of schools to close or adapt their operations, disrupted transport, and prompted the French government to activate its highest level of public health mobilisation as millions remained under heat alerts.

Parisians seek relief outdoors

As temperatures remained unusually high overnight, many Parisians headed to parks with blankets, hammocks and inflatable mattresses rather than endure overheated homes.

At Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Camille Arregun, who brought her baby to the park, told Euronews: "It's already like a proper hotel tonight."

Another visitor, Agathe Chebassier, said she had considered spending the entire night outdoors.

"I'd be much better off sleeping under the stars than in my flat, where it's absolutely sweltering," she said.

While some planned to return home later in the evening, others said they intended to remain in the park until morning as the heatwave persisted.

According to the French government, around one in three homes is poorly adapted to extreme heat, fuelling discussions about growing inequality between households equipped with air conditioning and those relying only on electric fans.

NBC News reported that many tourists also struggled with insufficient cooling in accommodation. Matt Mcleavy from Fairfax, Virginia, said the Airbnb his family had booked advertised air conditioning, but "the air conditioning was not anywhere near sufficient".

"No one slept," he told NBC News, adding that the family later booked a hotel only to discover it also lacked air conditioning.

Child dies after becoming trapped inside family car

French authorities are investigating the death of a three-year-old boy in Saint-Gratien, north of Paris, after he became trapped inside his family's parked vehicle during the extreme heat.

The Pontoise public prosecutor's office said the child climbed into the unlocked car while his father believed he was taking a nap. The vehicle's child lock was engaged, preventing him from getting out.

Public prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said the boy's parents and firefighters attempted to resuscitate him without success.

According to the prosecutor, the boy's mother had been sleeping with the couple's 18-month-old child while the father was working in a garden shed. After telling his son to take a nap, the father lost sight of him for at least 45 minutes before the child entered the vehicle.

"He apparently shut himself in and became trapped in the vehicle before being found unconscious by his parents," Le Bras said.

The boy's mother was taken to hospital in a state of shock.

The incident followed the deaths of two children, aged two and four, whose bodies were discovered inside a family car in Carpentras, southern France, on Monday after they were believed to have wandered away from their mother's supervision and become trapped inside.

Record temperatures and nationwide disruption

France is experiencing what authorities have described as an unprecedented June heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 42°C in areas including Nantes and Angoulême.

Meteorologist François Jobard said such extreme temperatures were no longer exceptional and had become increasingly frequent because of climate change.

France recorded its hottest day since national measurements began, while Paris reached 40.9°C on Wednesday, according to Météo-France. Earlier reporting by Euronews cited a temperature of 40.3°C in the capital, marking only the fourth time in 150 years that Paris had exceeded the 40°C threshold.

Night-time temperatures also reached record levels, with Météo-France reporting overnight lows of 24.8°C in Tours, 24.6°C in Poitiers and 24.1°C in Bourges, limiting relief after sunset and increasing health risks.

The national average temperature was expected to reach 27.4°C, while much of western France was forecast to exceed 40°C.

Authorities placed dozens of departments under the highest heat alerts. Around 2,000 educational institutions were closed, shortened operating hours or reorganised activities to protect students, while transport services were also affected.

The SNCF advised vulnerable passengers to avoid travelling by train during the heatwave.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the activation of "the highest level of public health mobilisation, called ORSAN level 3", saying the measure would "bolster hospital staffing levels".

Earlier on Thursday, Paris First Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire reported an increase in mortality in the capital, although he did not provide figures.

"I am solemnly calling on people to be careful for their own sake," Grégoire said, urging residents to avoid the sun during the hottest hours and remain hydrated.

Rising deaths and wider European heatwave

The full number of heat-related deaths in France since the heatwave began remains uncertain.

France in English reported that three elderly people in Gironde had died from heat-related causes before the latest escalation of temperatures.

The publication also reported at least 13 drowning deaths, including four adolescents and a 13-year-old girl in Seine-et-Marne, as people sought relief in rivers and other natural waterways.

Separately, NBC News reported French authorities had recorded at least 48 drowning deaths as people attempted to escape the extreme heat.

The heatwave has also affected much of Europe.

NBC News reported that Spain recorded its highest daily average temperature since 1950, while the United Kingdom experienced its hottest June days on record. Germany, Poland and several Balkan countries also issued warnings for severe heat.

French meteorological authorities warned that the current episode, which began last week, could rival the devastating 2003 heatwave that killed nearly 15,000 people across France.