France's scorching summer has taken a grim turn, with officials now linking the deaths of four young children and at least 55 drownings to the region's punishing heat. The latest victim, an 18-month-old in Marseille, died after being found with severe hyperthermia in a vehicle, per the Guardian. Police are investigating whether his father forgot to drop him at daycare. Two other young children, ages 2 and 4, and a 3-year-old also died in two separate car incidents earlier in the week, as temperatures near or above 104 degrees Fahrenheit stretched hospitals to the limit and prompted Paris to ban public street drinking of takeout alcohol. Paris' mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, also told people this week to go at a slower pace to keep things cool, per the Independent.
Scientists say this is Europe's most extensive and intense heat wave on record, made more likely by human-driven climate change. Major events, from Paris Pride to a Battle of Waterloo reenactment, have been postponed or scrapped as emergency services struggle to keep up. Nearly half of the continent's 850 biggest cities are facing unusual heat stress, and the swelter is rolling eastward, with central and eastern Europe bracing for the sweltering heat. In the UK, heat alerts remain in place after June records fell three days in a row, partially or completely closing more than 1,000 schools, disrupting rail service, and triggering power-supply warnings. In the German city of Dormagen, meanwhile, residents had to be evacuated from a nursing home due to oppressive heat conditions, per the AP.
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