In large parts of the country, temperatures are well above 30 degrees and are expected to rise further in the coming days. In several places, including southwestern France, the thermometer passed 40 degrees on Tuesday. Météo-France is warning that a "new, strong and prolonged heat wave" is sweeping across the country.
"The intense heat will intensify further on Tuesday and spread north and east," writes Météo-France.
Nearly 75 percent of the country is under an orange heat warning, the second-highest level.
The fire risk is assessed as "very high" in several departments. On Monday, nearly 12,000 residents were evacuated in southwestern France, where an ongoing forest fire has already burned nearly 5,000 hectares.
