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France has banned some public drinking and restricted outdoor events as a brutal heat wave bears down on Europe, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Tourists and locals are reportedly taking desperate — and sometimes dangerous — measures to cool off by plunging into canals and dunking in fountains.
Authorities in France imposed alcohol restrictions in public spaces and at some major gatherings as temperatures climbed toward triple digits, as health experts warn that drinking in extreme heat can lead to dehydration and other health risks.
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Paris ramped up precautions as the heat coincided with public celebrations, including the Fête de la Musique, with thousands of police and emergency workers deployed, per Reuters.
The public safety push comes as much of France swelters under red heat alerts, with temperatures in parts of the country forecast to top 104 degrees, the AP reported.
Photos show residents and tourists gathering around public fountains and stepping into shallow pools for relief.
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In Paris, crowds have flocked to the Canal Saint-Martin, where people were seen diving from bridges and swimming in the water, according to Euronews.
Officials are urging people to avoid the hottest parts of the day, drink water regularly and check on vulnerable neighbors, AP reported.
Canal Saint-Martin’s Récollets basin is open during periods of extreme heat, giving residents and tourists a designated place to cool off.
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The free swimming area opened June 17 and is staffed by lifeguards, according to Sortir à Paris.
Outside of designated swimming areas, officials have warned that the search for relief can become dangerous.
Multiple drownings have been reported across Europe as people seek out any available body of water during the heat wave.
In England, four teenagers drowned in lakes and reservoirs during a recent hot spell, prompting one grieving father to warn families about the dangers of children playing near rivers and lakes, per Channels Television.
French media reported that four children have drowned during the heat wave. In Germany, one man drowned and three others were reported missing after swimming in the Rhine River, AP reported.
The heat has disrupted travel and daily life across Europe. In France, trains, concerts and sporting events were reportedly canceled as authorities warned residents and tourists to stay hydrated.
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At the Eiffel Tower and other popular Paris venues, misting stations were set up to help crowds cope, per AP.
In Rome, tourists dunked their arms and faces into the city’s famous fountains, while visitors at Milan Fashion Week hid under parasols.
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The World Health Organization’s Europe office said this month that more than 200,000 people across Europe have died from heat-related causes over the last four years.
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