France breaks heat record in pattern that killed thousands before

Southern France hit a record: 26.8°C overnight on June 19. When nights stay hot, bodies can't cool properly during sleep. This is why the 2003 heatwave killed around 15,000 people, mostly elderly. Seven heat deaths already reported by late May. France is now facing two major heatwaves in three weeks—a test for emergency systems built since 2003.