Temperatures soar past 40 degrees Celsius in France

France is baking in its second and most brutal heatwave of the year, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius in numerous regions.

Over 60 French departments have been placed on high alert as the government warns of prolonged hot conditions and potential disruptions to national infrastructure. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has convened crisis meetings to assess infrastructure, prompting reinforced wildfire readiness and tightened surveillance of water supplies for France's nuclear reactors.