The summit of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower has been closed due to scorching temperatures in the French capital. The mercury was forecast to hit 40C in Paris on Tuesday as a heatwave sweeps across Europe.
The top floor of the 330-metre Eiffel Tower has been shut until Thursday due to the heat but the landmark’s two other levels remain open. The operators said the closure was “to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety”, while the world’s most visited monument also shut early on Tuesday due to the “extreme temperatures”. On the attraction’s website, it was announced the Eiffel Tower would “exceptionally close” at 4pm local time.
Seven million people visit the tower every year and people without tickets are being asked to postpone their visit until after Thursday.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” a heatwave notice on the Eiffel Tower website read, adding those with tickets affected by the early closure will be refunded.
It continued: “During this period of high temperatures, please remember to protect yourselves from the sun and stay hydrated regularly. Fountains are available along the paths leading to the forecourt.”
France’s national weather agency placed several areas under the highest red alert due to the soaring temperatures, with Paris particularly affected.
More than 1,300 schools in the country were partially or fully closed on Tuesday.
This comes as the UK recorded its hottest day of the year so far on July 1, with a temperature of 34.7C recorded in St James’s Park, central London.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has amber heat health alerts in place for much of England until Wednesday morning.
Most of Europe, particularly the south of the continent, has seen unusually hot conditions.
Temperatures were expected to hit 39C in the Spanish capital of Madrid on Tuesday, while Italy’s health ministry said 17 of the country’s 27 major cities were experiencing a heatwave.
In Turkey, firefighters tried to contain wildfires that have forced the evacuation of some 50,000 residents for the third consecutive day.
