Paris' brutal heatwave turns non-AC trains into ovens, hundreds gasp for breath and forced to step out. Watch video

With France witnessing an unprecedented heatwave, the situation triggered panic aboard a popular train travelling from Paris to Nice after several passengers reportedly experienced breathing difficulties due to the extreme temperatures. The train was eventually halted, and videos shared by local media showed passengers standing beside the tracks in search of shade while drinking water and juice. Rescue teams later arrived at the scene to assist stranded passengers and reports indicated that the ordeal lasted for nearly four hours.

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The video, doing the rounds on social media, shows hundreds of passengers out of the train, standing near the tracks, sitting on the staircase, visibly upset due to the weather conditions. According to local reports, the train coach was not equipped with air conditioning, worsening conditions for passengers trapped in the heat. The incident has raised concerns over public transport preparedness amid rising temperatures across Europe.


"This country is becoming a disgrace, and especially its public transportation. We're constantly facing increasingly major breakdowns while the price keeps rising! With transportation that's getting dirtier and dirtier!," a user commented. "The French downgrade is going to end up in the history books… how is it that in a country like France, the train isn’t air-conditioned in 2026?????," asked another.

For the past few days, Paris has been facing extreme weather conditions rarely seen in recent years, similar to India, which has recorded temperatures of 47–48°C. Several parts of France experienced soaring temperatures on Monday, May 25, touching 35°C, while western regions reported highs of 36°C.

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Authorities say residents in these colder regions are struggling to cope with the unusually intense heat, leading to growing health concerns. This is an unprecedented, millennial-scale event, with about a one-in-1,000 chance of occurring at this time of year, compared to the climate from 1979 to 2025.

France heatwave: Orange alert for Tuesday

According to popular French newspaper Le Monde, the Météo France weather service placed eight western departments under orange heatwave alert for Tuesday, indicating intense heat that could pose health risks. On Monday, 18 departments in the west and the Paris region were under yellow alert. This is the first time this alert system has been activated so early in the year.

Forecasters have warned of exceptional heat as record temperatures driven by a "heat dome" on Tuesday can push temperatures well above seasonal norms across the continent.

'Mini version of hell'

The heatwave is not limited to France alone. Several European countries, including the UK and Ireland, are also experiencing unusually high temperatures, with mercury levels crossing 35°C in many areas. In the United Kingdom, the Met Office weather agency said Monday was the hottest May day on record, with temperatures hitting 34.8C at Kew Gardens, southwest London – a full two degrees above the previous high.

"This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone May," it said on X.

"The weather here, it's like a mini version of hell. It's boiling. It's like really hot," said 10-year-old Liza Nizari on a visit to London, where temperatures normally average about 17C or 18C at this time of year. The Met Office forecast a drop later in the week.