France Hit by Third Heat Wave Since May, Closing Eiffel Tower Early and Shortening Tour de France Stage

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, France faced its third heat wave since May, prompting early closures at Paris landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and changes to the Tour de France. As of Saturday, July 11, about a quarter of mainland France, including Paris, was under the country’s highest-level heat alert. The Eiffel Tower operator said it would exceptionally close early at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday as temperatures were forecast to keep rising, while the Louvre said it would close at 4 p.m. from July 10 to July 13; the Orsay Museum took similar steps. Tour de France organizers said Sunday’s 185.5-kilometer stage would be shortened by 30 kilometers, canceling a mountain loop, in what they said was a first in the race’s history. With dry conditions raising fire risk, many towns canceled Bastille Day fireworks, and an official said on July 10 that the area burned by wildfires so far this year was double the same period last year. President Emmanuel Macron urged vigilance on Saturday, warning that nine out of 10 fires are caused by human activity. Official data showed more than 2,000 excess deaths were recorded during France’s June heat wave, and the national weather service forecast the high temperatures would last through Bastille Day.