Municipalities along the Basque coast have introduced unprecedented measures to cope with an orange heatwave alert this week. Free museums and pools, designated cool refuges and extended swimming hours are among the steps announced.
The city of Bayonne is preparing to welcome more than one million festayres for its festival from Wednesday to Sunday. Mayor Jean-René Etchegaray stated that the festivities have only been cancelled twice since 1932, during the war and COVID.
Firefighters have organised crowd watering and cool refuges against the heat have been identified. The festival programme can be lightened if necessary.
Sub-prefect Mathieu Duhamel noted that the event ranks among the five largest in Europe. Despite forecasts of temperatures below 30 degrees, authorities are preparing during this edition.
