The intense heat wave hitting France has led to changes in the operation of some of Paris’ main tourist attractions this weekend. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Musée d’Orsay announced early closures due to the high temperatures predicted for Saturday (11) and Sunday (12).
The Eiffel Tower administration informed that the monument will close its activities at 4 pm (local time), well before the usual summer time, when it usually receives visitors until after midnight. The Louvre will adopt the same closing time until Monday (13th), while the Musée d’Orsay will close visits at 5pm until Wednesday (16th).
In total, 24 French departments, including Paris and its metropolitan region, are under red alert issued by the Météo-France meteorological service. Around 22.2 million people live in the affected areas.
This is the third heat wave recorded in the country since May. In June, high temperatures were associated with more than 2,000 deaths, according to official data, while another episode of extreme heat, at the end of May, caused around 300 deaths. The French government has been criticized for its response considered insufficient in the face of the recurrence of these events, the intensification of which is associated by scientists with climate change caused by human activity.
*With information from AFP
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
