TWO CHILDREN FOUND DEAD IN CAR DURING FRENCH HEATWAVE

Two children aged two and four were discovered dead in a car in Carpentras, France, during a severe heatwave. Firefighters responded to the residential car park and attempted resuscitation, but both children were pronounced dead. Prosecutors identified extreme heat as the suspected primary cause of death, with temperatures in the Vaucluse region reaching 39°C. The children's 33-year-old mother was taken into care by emergency services and has not yet been questioned by authorities. Officials believe the children may have entered the vehicle without their mother's knowledge before becoming trapped inside.

France is currently experiencing an intense heatwave, with 49 regional administrative areas placed under red heatwave warnings. The heatwave has prompted the planned closure of nearly 2,700 schools across the country. Three elderly deaths have been recorded this week in connection with the heatwave conditions. Spain and the United Kingdom have also issued similar red heatwave warnings, indicating the crisis extends across multiple European nations. The exact duration the children spent inside the vehicle remains unclear.

The World Health Organisation has reported that over 200,000 heat-related deaths were recorded across Europe over the last four years. This incident occurs as European nations grapple with intensifying heatwave events. The children's deaths add to the documented toll of heat-related fatalities during the current weather event. Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in Carpentras.