Sixty departments in France were on orange heatwave alert on Saturday, affecting 41 million people, as a heatwave sweeping across much of Europe prompted crisis talks in France and warnings in Germany. The heat crisis could produce similar conditions to August 2003, when extreme heat led to the deaths of more than 14,800 people 23 years ago.
The heat will persist over mainland France over the weekend, with temperatures expected to top 30C across the country on Saturday and some spots possibly passing 40C on Sunday and into next week. In Paris, parks were open 24 hours a day as officials scrambled to protect vulnerable populations from potentially deadly conditions.
Protecting Vulnerable Communities
Municipalities such as Biarritz and Limoges called for vulnerable people to be entered on local registers so authorities could maintain contact and check they had everything they needed to cope with the soaring temperatures. The Paris police prefect, Patrice Faure, requested the cancellation of 11 outdoor sporting events planned for the weekend, and across France schools and construction sites were adjusting their hours or even closing.
The mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, questioned whether to go ahead with the Fête de la Musique festival, which was scheduled for Sunday. Grégoire said on Friday evening, "The combination of alcohol, heat and proximity to water are three risk factors that do not sit well together. So we would like to remove at least one of the three, but we will see in which way we do that."
Mass Gathering Raises Safety Concerns
Paris was preparing for a street party of unprecedented scale on Sunday, as more than 2 million people were expected to gather for the Fête de la Musique amid a huge influx of music fans from the UK and warnings of record temperatures. France's annual free street music festival, which has been running for more than 40 years, has grown into the country's largest cultural event.
Lamia El Aaraje, Paris's deputy mayor, said "calls to all of Europe's youth to come and party" in the city had transformed the event into "a kind of massive rave." She added: "Last year there was an impact on the public space, there were excesses, incidents, lots of sexual violence. We had a large clean-up issue afterwards so this year we wanted to mobilise ahead of time to secure the event."
Addressing Sexual Violence and Public Safety
After reports of sexual violence last year, including some women and men who reported being pricked with syringes, authorities adopted a zero-tolerance approach. Special cordoned-off safe spaces for women and disabled people were to operate in key locations, including near city hall and Bastille, staffed by specialist support teams trained to deal with sexual violence complaints.
Paris city hall also warned international visitors about the dangers of canals and waterways. Last month, during celebrations after Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final victory over Arsenal, two people died in the Seine. One had a cardiac arrest after jumping in the river, while another was later found dead.
The city was also bracing for the practical consequences of hosting such vast crowds. Last year's event generated so much litter that refuse teams needed two weeks to clear it. Thousands of additional bins and recycling points were installed across Paris for the weekend, while officials urged visitors to use the city's 600 round-the-clock public toilets rather than urinate in the street. About 1,400 water fountains were available as Paris contended with heatwave conditions.
Pierre Rabadan, the city hall official responsible for tourism and nightlife, said: "The DNA of Fête de la Musique is kindness and lots of people. It's a party that is responsible, joyous, happy and cosmopolitan. That's all we want in Paris."
Why This Matters:
The heatwave affecting 41 million people in France highlights the growing public health crisis posed by extreme weather events, with officials racing to prevent a repeat of the 2003 disaster that killed more than 14,800 people 23 years ago. The coordinated municipal response—from vulnerable person registries to 24-hour park access and water fountain deployment—demonstrates how public institutions must mobilize to protect those most at risk from climate-related emergencies. Meanwhile, the dual challenge of managing a mass cultural gathering during extreme heat, combined with last year's reports of sexual violence and safety incidents, underscores the need for robust public safety infrastructure and proactive measures to ensure women, disabled people, and other vulnerable groups can participate in public life safely. The crisis reveals how climate change intersects with urban planning, public health, and social equity concerns.