Heatwave pushes France to the limit: Hospitals overwhelmed as temperatures hit 42.8°C

France’s intense heatwave is straining hospitals, cities and daily life across the country. Emergency departments are seeing a surge in heat-related cases, while temperatures climbed to record levels in several regions. In Saône-et-Loire, the mercury reached 42.8°C, setting a new all-time record for the department.

Hospital staff called in as patients increase

The management of Vierzon Hospital sent an email to medical staff asking them to provide extra support over the weekend. At midday on Friday, 35 patients were already in the emergency department, where the daily average is around 70 patients.

Some of those admitted were suffering from heat-related illness, including cases of hyperthermia with body temperatures reaching 41°C.

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“The hospital, staff and patients are all suffering”

Vierzon Hospital director Didier Guidoni said the entire hospital had been mobilized for the final days of the heatwave. He said the building was already fragile and that both staff and patients were struggling under the extreme conditions. Health workers said they were relying on solidarity and improvised solutions to cope with the pressure in an aging facility.

Record temperatures in Saône-et-Loire

Saturday, June 27, marked one of the hottest days of the heatwave in France. Vitry-sur-Loire recorded 42.8°C, setting a new all-time record for both the weather station and the Saône-et-Loire department.

Other high readings included 42.2°C in Palinges, 41.5°C in Gueugnon and 41.3°C in Paray-le-Monial-Saint-Yan.

Power cut and fire outbreaks reported

The extreme heat also caused a power outage in Gueugnon. Local authorities opened the restaurant area of the exhibition hall to offer residents a cool and air-conditioned place to shelter.

Several fire outbreaks were also reported in areas including Les Guerreaux, Saint-Igny-de-Roche, Gueugnon, Rigny-sur-Arroux and Digoin.

Alert level to be lowered in Loiret

The Loiret department had been under red heatwave alert since June 21. Authorities said the alert level would be lowered to orange from Saturday evening, then to yellow from Sunday morning.

Temperatures remained high across the department, with 38.9°C recorded in Lorris, 38.8°C in Ouzouer-sur-Trézée and 38.4°C in Pithiviers-le-Vieil.

Urban heat islands under scrutiny

The heatwave has also renewed debate over how French cities are adapting to climate change. In Niort, the former parking area of Place de la Brèche has been transformed into a cooler public space with trees, grass and water features.

In Poitiers, by contrast, the 8,000-square-meter paved Place Maréchal-Leclerc is seen as one of the city’s urban heat islands.

Cities look for more shade and greenery

Local officials in Poitiers are considering new measures such as planting more trees, adding shaded areas and introducing water features. Research by the University of Poitiers has mapped urban heat islands and shown that hotter areas often overlap with socially vulnerable neighborhoods.

Experts warn that districts with fewer trees and less green space face greater health risks during heatwaves.