Locals jump into Canal Saint-Martin as heatwave pushes France towards 40°C

Paris Residents Seek Relief From Heat

A blast of early summer heat has sent Parisians searching for relief, cooling off in fountains, relaxing in the shade and dipping in the Canal Saint-Martin as temperatures in the French capital push towards 38°C.

Footage shows people splashing in public fountains and jumping into the canal. Across the city, residents are seeking shade and turning to cold drinks and ice cream as the heat builds.

“We stay hydrated, drink plenty of water, don’t stay outside too long, and plan ahead – that’s it. We took a stroll through an air-conditioned shopping mall and enjoyed it a bit. Now we’re heading home to cool off,” one resident shared.

“It’s always cool under the trees,” another added. “When we leave the apartment, we close everything so it stays dark, and we open everything again in the evening or at night to let in a little cool air, if there’s any.”

Heatwave Grips Large Parts Of France

France is facing its second extreme hot spell of the year, only weeks after a record-breaking May heatwave. Meteo-France has placed 60 of the country’s 96 mainland departments under orange heat alerts, covering about 41 million people.

Authorities have warned the episode is widespread, prolonged and intense. Temperatures are forecast to approach or exceed 40°C in several regions, with northern, central and western France among the areas hit hardest.

Measures Introduced To Protect Public

In Paris, the city brought forward supervised public swimming at the Canal Saint-Martin, giving residents another legal place to cool down. Several outdoor events have also been cancelled or changed as local authorities try to limit exposure.

President Emmanuel Macron urged people to be ‘extremely vigilant’, especially around older and vulnerable residents. Health authorities have advised the public to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours of the day.

Transport Services Affected

SNCF has reportedly cancelled 71 long-distance Intercites trains, saying high temperatures could trigger air-conditioning failures on some services.