A brutal heatwave sweeping across France has claimed at least 15 lives in the past 72 hours, with the mercury hitting 42 degrees Celsius in parts of the south. The French health ministry has declared 20 départements on red alert, the highest level of emergency, as hospitals report a surge in heat-related illnesses. In the UK, the Foreign Office has issued an urgent travel warning advising Britons to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas and to check weather updates before travelling.
The warning comes as Europe buckles under what climatologists are calling the most intense heatwave in recent history, with record temperatures also reported in Germany, Spain, and Italy. The UK itself is on a three-day amber warning, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s in the southeast. For working families, this heatwave is yet another blow.
It’s not just the discomfort: it’s the cost of keeping cool, the closures of schools and offices, and the unpaid leave for those who cannot work from home. In France, many workers do not have air conditioning or adequate protections. President Macron has called for a national effort to protect the vulnerable, but critics say more must be done to future-proof infrastructure against the climate crisis.
Here at home, the TUC has called for an urgent review of workplace heat regulations, which currently allow indoor temperatures to soar unchecked. The union body argues that employers must be forced to offer rest breaks and cool drinking water when temperatures exceed 30 degrees. As the heatwave continues, the human toll is rising.
The Red Cross has reported a spike in ambulance call-outs for heatstroke and dehydration. In the meantime, if you’re planning a trip to France, check the FCO updates. And if you’re staying in the UK, look out for elderly neighbours and those with health conditions.
The heat, like the cost of living, is hitting the poorest hardest.
