Due to the unprecedented heat in France, temperatures exceeded 40°C in several regions. Three people aged between 80 and 95 died in their homes in the suburbs of Bordeaux in southwestern France on Sunday, and 13 others drowned as they sought refuge in rivers from the heat.
Météo-France, the national weather service, has warned that the extremely hot weather will continue for a week, with "exceptionally high" temperatures expected in many parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday.
The French Ministry of Health urged residents to drink water regularly, avoid alcohol, keep cool indoors and limit physical activity during the hottest hours of the day.
French Education Minister Edouard Geoffrey announced on Monday that more than 1,300 schools have closed and more than 4,000 schools have changed their school hours due to weather conditions.
In the Paris region, some trains were canceled and more than 400,000 bottles of water were distributed to passengers at stations.
Abnormal heat is also acutely felt in Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. A red level of weather warning has been declared in 12 Italian cities.
