Parisians swelter in French heat wave

Paris' regional authorities have placed the French capital on vigilance Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36 degrees Celsius.

In France, some 27 departments have now been placed on "orange alert" with a heatwave spreading mainly to the east of mainland France. Temperatures are set to hit up to 40 degrees in some places in the south. The heat will reach its peak Wednesday, and begin to decline Thursday. This August heatwave episode should be shorter than that of July. It comes hot on the heels on a scorching July that French officials recorded as being the driest month since July 1959. Despite the fountains and water misters being installed by local authorities, many Parisians think more should be done in terms of tree planting and urban landscaping.