Louvre, Eiffel Tower Slash Hours as 104°F Paris Heat Wave Turns Deadly

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 26

Paris landmarks cut operations at the height of tourist season, with the Louvre closing at 4 p.m. through Saturday and the Eiffel Tower shutting at 4 p.m. Tuesday as temperatures topped 104°F.
The closures reflect a wider strain from an extreme heat wave driven by an Omega block, which trapped hot air over western Europe and pushed cities, transport systems and schools beyond normal operating limits.
845 French schools closed Monday, about 1 in 10 Paris-region trains were canceled, and authorities warned against unsupervised swimming and public drinking as people sought relief in fountains and other public spaces.
At least 48 people have drowned in France since the heat wave began, while Spain reported two heat-related deaths; London and Florence also scaled back tourist activities, and Italy put 16 cities on top heat alert.