France restricts public drinking and outdoor sports as heat wave bakes parts of Europe

France restricted public drinking and outdoor sports as an exceptional heat wave baked parts of Europe, disrupting daily life on the first day of summer Sunday. Authorities canceled trains, concerts and sports events while imposing a crackdown on drinking in public, with about a third of the country under “red alert” heat. Temperatures reached 104 degrees in some areas, and the forecast for Monday was described as even hotter. In Paris, venues including the Eiffel Tower installed misting stations to cool crowds, while other countries reported impacts such as Spain canceling some sports and cultural events and Rome dealing with crowds dunking in fountains. The article cites WHO Europe figures that more than 200,000 people died from heat-related causes in Europe over the last four years, noting many fatalities were preventable. It also highlights concerns about older people and people living outdoors, and reports 845 schools ordered to close in France, with additional measures affecting nuclear reactor water surveillance and wildfire readiness. The report says four children drowned Saturday.