France on Sunday went ahead with its annual Fete de la Musique street music festival despite an intense heatwave that placed a record 35 departments under the country’s highest weather alert.
The weather alert has led to authorities banning alcohol consumption in public spaces in affected areas.
The nationwide festival, held every year on June 21 to mark the summer solstice, typically sees musicians perform in bars, streets and public squares as revellers celebrate late into the night.
This year’s event coincided with soaring temperatures, with state weather forecaster Meteo-France warning that temperatures could reach as high as 41 degrees Celsius in some regions.
Authorities said alcohol consumption would be prohibited in streets and other public spaces in departments under red alert, while alcohol would not be served at state-organised events. The measures were aimed at reducing health risks and maintaining public order during the extreme heat.
Some cities cancelled outdoor events, but celebrations in major urban centres including Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg were set to proceed.
Officials also banned gatherings along the lower banks of the Seine River to reduce the risk of accidents, while warning residents against swimming after four teenagers drowned in separate incidents on Saturday.
Last year, about two million people attended the festival in Paris alone. To maintain security, authorities deployed 4,800 police officers and gendarmes, along with 2,500 firefighters, across the capital and surrounding areas.
According to official estimates, about 53 million people were expected to be affected by the heatwave on Sunday, with an additional 45 departments placed under orange alert.
The number of departments under red alert surpassed the previous record of 20 set during a heatwave in July 2019, highlighting the severity of the current weather conditions.