French authorities placed more than a third of the country's population on extreme climate alert on Sunday, as a severe heatwave continued, raising growing fears of large-scale wildfires.

The French meteorological service announced raising the alert level to red, the highest warning level, in 37 departments in mainland France, covering about 26 million people.

Heatwave repercussions in France

The heatwave, the third to hit France in two months, is expected to continue until mid-next week.

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This coincided with a notable increase in wildfires in recent days, as flames have consumed more than 25,000 hectares since the beginning of the year, nearly double the area affected during the same period in 2025, according to the French Civil Security. French President Emmanuel Macron called on citizens to be cautious and avoid any behavior that could cause fires, noting that most recorded fires are linked to human activity and negligence.

The heatwave has cast a shadow over public and tourist activities in the country, with several events cancelled, including firefighters' celebrations in Paris and some outdoor and non-air-conditioned sports activities.

Repeated heatwaves

Organizers of the Tour de France were forced to shorten one stage of the race due to the high heat, a first of its kind, while the Eiffel Tower decided to reduce its opening hours during the weekend, and the Louvre and Orsay museums followed suit. In several regions of France, local authorities canceled scheduled fireworks displays for the national holiday, amid warnings of increased fire risks. Scientific studies indicate that the recurrence of heatwaves is one of the most prominent manifestations of climate change, and is primarily linked to the continued reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.