Parisians jumped and swam in the Saint Martin canal in the city's northeast on Sunday (June 21) hoping to get respite from extreme temperatures that prompted authorities to issue red weather warnings from midday.

Forecaster Meteo France expanded the highest level of weather alerts to cover all of western France, much of the centre and the region around Paris from Monday (June 22).

"It is hardly liveable in the housing in Paris, there are not necessarily many buildings or constructions that are made enough for these kinds of heat", said local Leo Amiot, 23.

"I feel I'm going to be maybe inside a lot, hide in the shadow", said Fredrik Johansson, 32, who was visiting from Sweden.

The extreme heat has begun to disrupt infrastructure. The head of France's national railways SNCF said the rail network was “strongly impacted” by high temperatures that risk damaging overhead power lines and expanding tracks. SNCF has cancelled 71 intercity trains until Monday on key routes.

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Parisians take to the water to escape red-alert heatwave

VIDEO SHOWS: PEOPLE AT CANAL ST MARTIN TRYING TO COOL DOWN IN HEATWAVE BY SWIMMING AND JUMPING INTO WATER, COMMENTS BY VISITORS AND PARIS RESIDENT, PEOPLE ON BEACH IN BY MEDITERRANEAN SEA

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 21, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. YOUNG MAN JUMPING FROM BRIDGE INTO CANAL SAINT MARTIN

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SWIMMING IN CANAL

3. PEOPLE SITTING BY CANAL

4. YOUNG WOMEN FLOATING IN RUBBER RINGS IN CANAL

5. PEOPLE SITTING BY CANAL, MAN DIVING IN

6. PEOPLE JUMPING FROM BRIDGE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM STOCKHOLM, FREDRIK JOHANSSON, 32, SAYING (ASKED HOW HE WILL GET THROUGH THE NEXT DAYS):

"Well to be honest I feel I'm going to be maybe inside a lot, hide in the shadow, and go for a few swims if you can. That's good you know, your body needs to be cooled down, so drink a lot of water, I would say."

8. PEOPLE SITTING BY CANAL

9. MAN SWIMMING IN CANAL

10. PEOPLE SITTING BY CANAL

11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS RESIDENT, LEO AMIOT, 23, SAYING:

"Overall, with regard to the heat wave, I suffer from it a lot, but it’s cool to be able, like today, to go to the Canal Saint-Martin and swim. Of course, after that it is worrying with regard to the heat and everything that it brings for people."

12. YOUNG WOMEN PADDLING ON STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD

13. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS RESIDENT, LEO AMIOT, 23, SAYING:

"It shouldn’t continue too long in the years to come. It is hardly liveable in the housing in Paris, there are not necessarily many buildings or constructions that are made enough for these kinds of heat. And I also think that we are not made to live here in Paris under 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit). So what I would say is that we should put in a few more trees. And after, to try to find additional cool areas."

14. YOUNG MEN GATHERING ON BRIDGE TO JUMP IN

15. PEOPLE SWIMMING IN AND SITTING BY CANAL

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) VISITOR FROM MARSEILLE, WILLIAM RAMPAL, 24, SAYING:

"There are the kinds of little spray fans, I think that works well, cold drinks. And then obviously, everyone is going to take refuge in the shops, the supermarkets where there is air conditioning, where it is cooled, all that, but we cannot accommodate all of Paris in these buildings unfortunately. So yeah, after a while, it’s great that they were able to allow people to swim. You have to be careful not to get too overexcited because it is very dangerous. But no, frankly, it’s cool if everyone manages to get along well, to swim, to cool down, it’s very good."

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SWIMMING IN CANAL

18. WOMAN WITH DRINK IN RUBBER RING CLIMBING OUT OF CANAL / PEOPLE LINING CANAL

CASSIS, FRANCE (JUNE 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

19. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING ON PEBBLE BEACH BY MEDITERRANEAN SEA