Two children, aged two and four, were found dead in their family's car in a residential parking lot in Carpentras, France, as the country experienced its hottest day yet in the latest heatwave.
The heatwave has led to the deaths of three elderly people in their homes and 13 people who drowned across the country over the weekend.
Temperatures had been forecast to reach a maximum of 39C in Carpentras, but the actual temperature reached 43C, with record-breaking overnight temperatures in Bordeaux and Paris.
Over 1,350 schools closed on Monday, and several cities experienced their hottest night on record.
The heatwave is the second this year, following an unusually hot spell in May that shattered records across half the country.
Scientists warn that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, primarily caused by burning coal, oil, and gas, and are set to become more frequent, longer, and more intense.
