The worst heat was felt in southern Europe, while punishing temperatures were forecast to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Paris and remain unusually high in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Across the continent, temperatures have surged above 40°C, straining power grids, filling hospitals, and triggering emergency measures.

The Eiffel Tower closed early on Tuesday as a sweltering heat wave gripped parts of Europe. The attraction closed at 4 p.m. local time — with last entry at 2:30 p.m. — as temperatures reached approximately 101 degrees Fahrenheit,