Two children found dead in car in France as heatwave hits Europe

Two children, aged four and two, were found dead inside their family's car in southeastern France on June 22, 2026, amidst a severe heatwave affecting western Europe. The local prosecutor, Hélène Mourges, stated that while the exact causes of death are still under investigation, the extreme heat is considered the primary line of inquiry. Carpentras, the town where the incident occurred, was forecast to experience temperatures exceeding 39C (102.2F) on Monday afternoon. This tragic event occurs as numerous European countries have issued health alerts due to sustained and rising temperatures, with projections indicating that absolute temperature records may be broken across the region.