French Heatwave: Teachers Collapse, Schools Close Amid Record Temperatures and Infrastructure Failures
A heatwave in France caused teachers to collapse and led to school closures, highlighting infrastructure failures. Record temperatures, including 43.8 degrees in Pulluau, prompted 3,500 school shutdowns and concerns over hospital conditions. Spain reported 212 heat-related deaths in four days.
A teacher fainted from heat at a primary school in Hesdin-la-Forêt, France, with a second teacher also needing treatment. Children aged 3-7 were evacuated, and the mayor closed all local nurseries and primary schools for the week.
This incident highlights national infrastructure shortcomings during an intense heatwave. France experienced its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with peaks of 40.3 degrees in Paris and 43.8 degrees in Pulluau. The lowest night-time temperature in Paris was 26.4 degrees.
Across France, 3,500 schools were shut on Thursday, and 10,000 adjusted hours or classroom locations. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire ordered 1,200 air conditioners for schools. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged a «clear delay in the maintenance of our public buildings» but cited decades of underinvestment. Hospitals also reported 39-40 degree temperatures in patient rooms, with infectious disease specialist Benjamin Rossi warning of death risks and unbearable conditions.
Spain reported 212 heat-related deaths in four days. Green politician François Ruffin criticized the government, brandishing an emergency blanket as a «symbol» of political failure to address climate change and prepare for extreme heat.