Seven people have died in connection with a heatwave in France, including at least five cases of drowning, government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday.
The seven deaths were "directly or indirectly linked to the heat," she said. Two other people died during sports events in Paris and the greater Lyon area.
Meteo France forecasted maximum temperatures of between 33 degrees Celsius and 36C for Tuesday. On Monday it said record temperatures for May had been reached.
The government urged people to exercise caution.
Eight departments in western France were on orange alert due to the heatwave, with the hot weather expected to continue until at least the end of the week in northern and western France.
