France suffers the most from heatwaves in Europe

France has been the worst-hit country in Europe since June 2026, when a heatwave swept across the country. 

Several factors contributed to the heatwave. 

Many parts of France have recorded temperatures between 40°C–44°C, and more than 90% of the country's population is under heat warnings. 

School closures, train disruptions, and increased calls for emergency medical services have been reported. 

Several deaths have also been reported among people trying to escape the heat, including those who went swimming. 

Two young children died in a car in southern France due to the heat. 

Several elderly people in the Bordeaux region also died from the extreme heat. Some local reports say at least 18 people have died. 

 Also, between June 18 and June 23, 40 people were reported to have drowned in the heat. The French Prime Minister said that most of these deaths were among young people.

However, French health experts expect the death toll to be significantly higher than the currently reported figure of 18–40.

Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal are also experiencing very high temperatures (up to 42–45°C), with the Iberian Peninsula being the hottest region in terms of temperature values.

In this regard, Spain and Portugal are the countries with the highest temperatures, while France has become the country with the highest human, social and infrastructure impacts.