An intense and unprecedently early heatwave is baking western Europe, with temperatures in many places topping 40 degrees Celsius Saturday.
Temperatures were high across most of Western Europe on the first day of the weekend.
In southwest France, there were peaks of close to 42 to 43 degrees Celsius, as the city of Biarritz broke an "absolute" temperature record.
Nearly three-quarters of the country's population -- some 45 million people -- were issued with red or orange heat alerts in what is the earliest heatwave ever recorded in France.
For some in Paris, especially those living in cramped, old apartments, the scorching heat was too much to bear.
Areas across western and southern Europe are already rationing water amid the sweltering heat, with a very dry spring putting immense stress on water systems.
Temperatures in London stayed well below 20, with rain and cloud hitting the British capital. »