EXTREME HEAT FORCES EIFFEL TOWER CLOSURE, HALTS PARIS-MILAN TRAINS "FOR SEVERAL DAYS"

Paris, France – France is battling an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 41 degrees Celsius. Météo-France has issued a red alert for heatwaves across 16 regions. In Paris, the extreme heat has led to the closure of the Eiffel Tower to tourists starting today, July 1st, and at least until tomorrow, July 2nd. Across various areas, over 1,300 schools will also be partially or totally closed. Record temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are gripping much of Europe, from France to Germany, and Greece to Spain.

Eiffel Tower Shuts Down Early, Travel Impacted

Paris's iconic landmark closed its access points earlier than usual due to the sweltering conditions. "Due to the extreme temperatures expected this afternoon and evening, the Eiffel Tower will exceptionally close at 4 PM. Last entry at 2:30 PM. Visitors with tickets for a visit after 1 PM are kindly asked to check their email. The visit will be automatically refunded," read the official announcement on its website.

Adding to the disruption, rail services between Paris and Milan have been suspended "for at least several days". This follows violent thunderstorms that battered the Maurienne Valley in the French Alps, as reported by SNCF, the French railway company. SNCF hopes there is no damage to the tracks, which would further prolong the interruption of connections between the two cities. According to the Savoie prefecture, the intense heat triggered severe thunderstorms, causing an unprecedented 70-year flood of the Charmaix torrent. This resulted in significant damage in Modane and its surroundings, near the Italian border, though fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The scorching heat is expected to peak mid-week, with temperatures potentially reaching 41 degrees Celsius. In response, the Parisian government has activated a free hotline to assist residents.