France's Heat-Alert System Faces Its Largest Test Since 2003

France has activated maximum heat alerts in 35 of 101 departments—a third of the country—as temperatures approach record levels. The alert system itself is a direct legacy of the 2003 heat wave that killed 15,000 people. This sustained, multi-region event will test whether pre-positioned cooling centers, hospital protocols, and vulnerable-population outreach actually hold under simultaneous nationwide strain. Response gaps will show up first in emergency call volume and hospital admissions data.