Europe closes schools, cancels trains as heatwave set to intensify
European countries have closed hundreds of schools and cancelled or reduced train services as a severe heatwave set to intensify continues to grip the region. In France, authorities closed 845 schools on Monday, with another 1,800 schools allowing students to leave earlier than usual amid temperatures expected to peak between 40°C and 41°C in many regions. Currently, 49 of the 96 mainland departments are under a red weather alert, an increase from 35 just days ago. The national railway operator SNCF cancelled 71 long‑distance train services since Wednesday, citing risks of air‑conditioning failures and track damage from extreme heat. Both France and Belgium have reduced rail services, particularly affecting commuter lines in and around Paris. Belgium's national railway operator SNCB declared that some peak‑hour trains would be cancelled on Monday and Tuesday to minimize the risk of breakdowns obstructing the […]
