Among the victims were two young children, aged two and four, who were found unconscious in a family car outside their home in Carpentras, southeastern France. Emergency responders were unable to revive them.

The extreme weather has forced schools across France to either close or adjust their schedules, while weather agencies across Europe continue to monitor rising temperatures.

In Bordeaux, located in western France’s wine-producing region, temperatures reached 41.9 degrees Celsius, surpassing a record set in August last year. Poitiers, in central France, recorded 41.2 degrees Celsius, breaking a temperature record that had stood since 1947. Preliminary data from Météo-France also indicated that Paris was on course to record its highest-ever June temperature after reaching 38.4 degrees Celsius.

The heatwave has also taken a toll on vulnerable populations. Authorities confirmed that three elderly residents, aged between 80 and 95, died in the Bordeaux region over the weekend from heat-related health complications.

French officials further reported that 13 people drowned between Sunday and Monday as many residents sought relief from the scorching temperatures by swimming in rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Civil Safety spokesperson Jérôme Boulanger urged the public to use only supervised swimming areas, noting that drowning incidents tend to increase significantly during periods of extreme heat.

The heatwave has extended beyond France. In Spain, temperatures in the northern coastal city of San Sebastián were forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, more than double the area’s historical average for this time of year. Spain’s weather agency, AEMET, said temperatures across the country are running between five and 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms, with some northern regions experiencing even greater anomalies.

Climate experts have linked the prolonged heat to an atmospheric phenomenon known as an “Omega block,” which traps hot air over a region for extended periods. According to Clair Barnes, a research associate in extreme weather and climate at Imperial College London, the system is drawing intense heat from North Africa and the Sahara Desert into Europe while preventing cooler air from entering affected areas.

The United Kingdom is also experiencing unusually high temperatures. The Met Office warned that the ongoing four-day heatwave could push temperatures above 39 degrees Celsius later this week, potentially breaking the country’s June temperature record of 35.6 degrees Celsius, previously set in 1957 and matched in 1976.

Elsewhere, Italy issued red heatwave alerts for 12 major cities as soaring temperatures placed additional pressure on power infrastructure. Utility companies in Turin reportedly increased staffing levels and deployed temporary generators to address localized outages caused by high electricity demand.

The extreme conditions have also affected wildlife. Rehabilitation centres in Belgium reported a surge in rescued birds suffering from heat stress, particularly swifts, swallows and sparrows that nest beneath rooftops. Conservation workers said temperatures under roof eaves can exceed 50 degrees Celsius, forcing young birds to abandon their nests in search of cooler conditions. One wildlife refuge in Temploux said it received 150 affected animals within just three days.

Authorities across Europe continue to urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities during peak heat hours and take extra precautions to protect children, the elderly and vulnerable individuals as the heatwave persists.

The Kano State Ministry of Health has closed two private health training institutions operating without approval from the state government and relevant professional and regulatory bodies.

The closure was announced in a statement issued by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Kofar-Na’isa, on Tuesday in Kano.

He said the affected institutions are Ibn Sina College of Health Science and Technology, located at Dakata Kawaji, and Life Line College of Health Science and Technology, situated at Dakata Industrial Area, both in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the closure followed a comprehensive assessment by the ministry, which found that both institutions failed to meet the minimum requirements and standards for the establishment and operation of health training schools.

He added that the institutions were allegedly operating without proper verification and approval from the ministry and lacked accreditation from relevant professional and regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing health education and training in Nigeria.

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“Investigations further uncovered significant deficiencies, including inadequate qualified teaching personnel, poor learning facilities, insufficient infrastructure, and failure to comply with established educational and operational standards required for effective health manpower development,” he said.

“The ministry also observed poor adherence to professional ethics, regulatory guidelines, and other mandatory requirements designed to safeguard the quality of healthcare education and ensure the competence of future healthcare professionals.”

The statement further quoted the ministry as advising proprietors of health training institutions across the state to strictly comply with legal and regulatory provisions guiding their operations.

The ministry explained that the closure of non-compliant institutions remained a necessary step towards ensuring quality healthcare education, protecting the interests of students, and maintaining excellence in healthcare service delivery throughout the state.
(NAN)