France was hit hard by this heat wave and activated a national emergency response system. As the murderous heat exceeding 40 degrees continued, French education authorities prioritized the safety of students and closed about 800 elementary and middle schools in red alert areas. Additionally, thousands of additional schools moved quickly to dismiss students early and minimize outdoor activities. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that the intensity of this heat wave would break historical records, and in fact, 53 million people will be affected by the heat wave. The railway network is also experiencing paralysis due to abnormal temperatures across social infrastructure, with dozens of services canceled for safety reasons.

The intense heat is cooling down even the passion of culture and sports. France's annual street music festival has lost its usual vibrancy due to authorities' restrictions on drinking and the cancellation of some concerts. The situation is the same in Spain, where the World Cup street cheering area that was scheduled to be set up at Plaza de Colon in Madrid was suddenly closed due to the heat wave. The Spanish Football Federation urged fans to stay safe, recommending that they watch the game indoors in an air-conditioned room instead of outdoors. Beyond the simple cancellation of events, this is an example of how the climate crisis can directly limit the enjoyment of popular cultural activities and sports.

Meanwhile, the attention of the sports world is focused on the match between Spain and Saudi Arabia, the second match of the Group H of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. Spain, who lost face by drawing 0-0 with Cape Verde in the first game, is aiming for a turnaround with key resources such as Ramin Yamal. Yamal has completed his preparations to play after returning from injury, but is showing a cautious stance that it is still impossible to play full-time. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is preparing for an upset based on the solid defensive organization shown in the first game against Uruguay. The gap in rankings is large, but with the variables of the heat wave and the poor performance of the first game, this match is expected to be a watershed moment for both teams in a life-or-death struggle to advance to the round of 16.

This heat wave is more than just an abnormal weather event, it is accompanied by an economic and health crisis. The governor of the Bank of France warned that declining productivity and surging energy demand would put a heavy strain on the economy in the medium to long term. In fact, damage is occurring in public health settings. The global high temperature phenomenon is directly leading to human casualties, with three deaths presumed to be heat stroke occurring in the Grand Canyon of the United States in one week. Scientists warn that such heat waves will occur more frequently and intensely due to climate change, and are now raising their voices to go beyond simply avoiding the heat and to redesign the entire economic structure and social system to suit the era of climate crisis.