France closes 845 schools as second heatwave hits western Europe

Western Europe is facing its second extreme heatwave within a month, prompting France to issue its highest red alert across 49 departments and an orange alert in 40 others. France’s meteorological agency said the heat is expected to affect more than 90 percent of the country’s population. Protective measures have been activated for outdoor workers, 845 schools have been closed entirely, and around 1,800 educational institutions have sent students home early in the afternoon. In neighboring Belgium, several train services were suspended because of the high temperatures. Spain’s meteorological agency warned that nighttime and daytime temperatures would rise sharply across the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands until Wednesday, with a slight decline expected from Thursday, though humid conditions were set to continue. In Portugal, meteorologists recorded Tuesday as the country’s hottest day of the year so far and issued an orange alert for three inland regions. Experts have linked the growing intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, to human-driven climate change.