Europe heatwave live: UK issues rare red temperature warnings; French PM to hold crisis meeting after heat deaths

Temperatures could hit 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, smashing June record set in 1976; red alerts in France after 19 heat deaths

• Two children found dead in car in France as heatwave hits Europe

Welcome to today’s coverage of the deadly heatwave in Europe.

Rare red warnings have been issued in the UK over extreme temperatures that are set to hit record highs for June this week as a fierce heatwave grips Europe.

In south-east France, first responders were unable to resuscitate two children, aged two and four, who were found unconscious by their mother in ​the family car outside their home on Monday, a prosecutor in Carpentras said.

The deaths followed those of three elderly people, aged between 80 and 95, who died ⁠near Bordeaux over the weekend as a result of health problems caused by the extreme temperatures, an official said. Thirteen more drowned in swimming accidents.

In San Sebastian, in Spain’s traditionally cooler north, ⁠the temperature was set to reach 40C, more than double the city’s historic average for 22 June, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.

Belgium’s heatwave is forecast to last a week with temperatures “the hottest ever recorded”, warned the IRM meteorological institute’s head of forecasting.

Paris was due to register its highest temperature for June, reaching 38.4C, according to preliminary numbers from the Meteo-France.

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