France's heatwave forces nuclear shutdowns, red alert for 26 million

A third intense heatwave in two months has swept France, with temperatures reaching 41 °C in parts of the country. Météo‑France placed 37 departments on the highest red vigilance level, affecting about 26 million people – roughly a third of the population. The health ministry reported a rise in emergency calls and hospital activity, and cited more than 2 000 excess deaths linked to the heat.

To protect vulnerable groups, the government activated the Orsec extreme‑heat plan, opening cooling centres and allocating €100 million for air‑conditioning installations in hospitals and nursing homes. Meanwhile, EDF shut three river‑cooled nuclear reactors (Golfech‑2, Bugey‑3, Chooz‑2) and reduced output at eight others because water temperatures exceeded environmental limits. The curtailment cut national electricity generation by around 4 GW, pushing wholesale power prices up and causing a sharp drop in French electricity exports to neighboring countries.

The extreme temperatures have also heightened wildfire risk, with thousands of hectares already burned, and disrupted transport, prompting traffic jams and temporary reductions in train services. Authorities warn that the heat is expected to persist into mid‑week, with only a gradual cooling expected from Atlantic winds later in the week.