The government announced on Friday the activation, for the first time, of the "extreme heat" emergency plan (Orsec) in departments placed under red alert for extreme heat. Presented by government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, this plan aims to strengthen the civil defense response during periods of exceptional heat. It notably includes the opening of cooling centers for the most vulnerable people, as well as enhanced monitoring of isolated individuals.
Nine departments on red alert
From midday onwards, nine departments in western France will be placed under red alert: Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Mayenne, Sarthe, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, and Vienne. Meanwhile, 72 departments remain under orange alert. According to Météo-France, this heatwave is expected to continue at least until July 14th, with a further rise in temperatures expected on Sunday.
Fires and disrupted festivities
This heatwave is accompanied by a high risk of wildfires. Since the beginning of July, 9.921 hectares have already been destroyed by flames, nearly three times more than during the same period last year. Faced with this situation, several prefectures have decided to cancel or prohibit fireworks displays planned for Bastille Day on July 14th, particularly in the Hérault and Vendée departments, in order to limit the risk of fires starting.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.