As the intense heatwave that has gripped Western Europe shifts eastward, countries like Germany and the Czech Republic are preparing for extreme temperatures potentially reaching 40°C. France, which experienced its hottest day on record for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, has escalated its Orsan health emergency plan to level three—the highest alert. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the move aims to boost hospital staffing and protect vulnerable populations. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported that deaths linked to the heat include not only the elderly but also young people suffering cardiac arrests; Paris saw four times more cardiac arrests than normal over a 24-hour period.