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Despite a record heatwave, France held its annual Fete de la Musique on Sunday.
A third of the country’s departments were under the highest heat alert.
Every year on June 21, musicians fill public spaces across France, from bars and street corners to rooftops, as people celebrate the start of summer late into the night.
This year, the event happened during one of the country’s worst heatwaves.
Meteo-France warned that temperatures could reach 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. France is at the center of a heatwave that also affects southern Britain, Spain, and Portugal.
A record 35 departments are on red alert, beating the previous high of 20 departments set on July 24 and 25, 2019.
To reduce health risks, the government banned alcohol consumption in public spaces in red-alert areas during the festival.
State-organized events also stopped serving alcohol, and local organizers elsewhere were told to adjust their plans.
Some cities canceled all outdoor events. The Louvre in Paris called off a free concert under its glass pyramid.
Gatherings along the lower banks of the Seine River were also banned to prevent accidents, after four teenagers drowned in France the day before.
In Paris, bartender Mona Jaffart said her bar would not sell takeaway alcohol and that inside, it would be 'just a normal day.'
Regarding the alcohol ban, people had different opinions. 'I think it's a good thing,' said Hailey Infante, 21.
'It's really hot, and even a drop of alcohol can quickly go to your head.' Nicolas Pilc, 48, disagreed, saying the rule would have 'absolutely no effect' and that 'everyone will do whatever they want.'
Authorities sent 4,800 police officers and gendarmes, plus 2,500 firefighters, to Paris and nearby areas. About 53 million people in France felt the effects of the heat on Sunday, and another 45 departments were on orange alert.
On Monday, 845 schools in France planned to close because of the heat, and another 1,800 changed their class schedules. President Emmanuel Macron asked people on X to 'look out for others,' especially the elderly, children, and anyone who is alone or vulnerable.
The heatwave also affected other countries. Thirteen out of Spain's 17 regions were on orange alert, and the northern Basque Country was on red alert.
Madrid canceled a public screening of Spain's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia because temperatures could reach 40 °C. Portugal put three inland districts on orange alert, warning that temperatures might hit 42 °C.
In Britain, the Met Office extended an amber extreme heat warning for much of England through Thursday, with some places expected to reach 37 °C.
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