In the town of Susten, France, an unnaturally high temperature of 54°C was recorded in one of the classrooms at an elementary school. As a result, several children felt unwell: one child fainted, while others complained of nausea. This was reported by Bild, according to Glavkom.
Following this incident, local authorities decided to shorten the school day, ending it before noon. Water misters were installed on school grounds, and free access to a public swimming pool was arranged for the affected families.
The cause of the extreme heat was the glass roof of the Isle Verte school corridor, built in the 1980s without taking modern climate change into account. Although plans for the building’s modernization are already underway, a full renovation will take at least two years.
Amid the heatwave, France has declared a heightened weather hazard level in 17 departments. According to local media, seven people have died due to the extreme heat, and new temperature records have been set in some cities.
The heat has also spread to other European countries. In Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, temperatures are significantly higher than usual. In Spain, the air has warmed to nearly +40°C, and in the United Kingdom, a new temperature record has been set, breaking a record that had stood for over a century.
Thousands of residents in southeastern England were left without water or experienced a significant drop in water pressure due to the record-breaking heat and a dry spring.
