Morbihan rave party draws up to 2,000 attendees amid heat wave and fire risk

An unauthorized rave was held at the Forges de Lanoué in the Morbihan department of France during an extreme heat wave. Approximately 1,500‑2,000 people gathered despite a prefectural ban on such events through August 31 and a red‑alert for forest fire danger.

French authorities deployed mobile gendarmes from Île‑de‑France and police units, implementing a control system to limit further arrivals and targeting the seizure of sound equipment. The prefecture emphasized that the gathering posed high risks to participants, emergency services, security forces and the environment. No injuries or arrests were reported at the time, but officials warned that sparks or open flames could quickly ignite a wildfire in the dry forested area.

The incident underscores the tension between popular unlicensed outdoor gatherings and public‑safety measures during severe weather conditions, prompting continued monitoring by the gendarmerie and rescue services.