PARIS, France, June 21, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Half of France will on Monday be

placed under red alert, the government said, as temperatures were expected to

climb further amid a fierce heatwave.

The highest heat warning was to be issued for 49 of France's 96 mainland

departments, or administrative regions, while another 40 departments will be

under orange alert, according to Meteo-France.

BSS/AFP/SSS/2019 hrs