23.06.2026 22:41
The scorching heat intensifying its effects in France has claimed the lives of two young children. In the Vaucluse region, siblings aged 2 and 4 were found dead inside a parked car on a day when temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius. As an investigation into the incident was launched, reports indicate that the mother may have forgotten the children in the vehicle while shopping, and it was announced that all aspects of this tragedy, which has plunged the country into mourning, are being thoroughly examined.
France was shaken by a horrific tragedy in the shadow of an extreme heatwave. In the Vaucluse region of the country's south, a 2-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister were found dead inside a hot car. An investigation was launched into the incident, with claims emerging that the mother may have left her children in the vehicle while shopping.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in Vaucluse. Firefighters dispatched to the scene following a report intervened on the two siblings found motionless in a car parked in the garden of their grandmother's house. However, it was determined that the children had died.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE MOTHER
According to reports in the French press, initial statements suggested the children had entered the car without their mother's knowledge. However, a police source close to the investigation claimed that the 33-year-old mother stated in her testimony that she forgot her children in the car while shopping.
Following the incident, the mother, who was in shock, was placed under the supervision of medical teams, while the Carpentras Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation on suspicion of "involuntary manslaughter."
CAUSES OF DEATH TO BE CLARIFIED BY AUTOPSY
The prosecutor's office announced that an autopsy would be performed to definitively determine the cause of death of the two children. Officials stated that, based on current findings, death due to extreme heat is the strongest possible scenario.
Experts noted that the temperature inside closed vehicles left in the sun can rise to 70 degrees Celsius in a short time, warning that this can have fatal consequences for children.
FRANCE BATTLES EXTREME HEAT
It was reported that temperatures in the region approached 40 degrees Celsius on the day of the incident. Due to the heatwave affecting France, red alerts were issued in many cities, and approximately 1,350 schools were temporarily closed.
Authorities once again warned citizens not to leave children and pets in vehicles. In recent days, numerous health issues related to extreme heat have been reported in the country, while the number of fatal incidents has also increased among people entering lakes and rivers to cool off.