Shoppers rush for AC coolers in France as soon as store opens amid brutal heatwave
As a severe heatwave continues to grip France, chaotic scenes unfolded at a store in Chambery, where dozens of customers rushed towards air conditioners as
As a severe heatwave continues to grip France, chaotic scenes unfolded at a store in Chambery, where dozens of customers rushed towards air conditioners as soon as the doors opened. A video from the store showed shoppers scrambling through aisles and crowding around cooling appliances in a frantic attempt to secure relief from the soaring temperatures. Amid visible tension, the scene spiralled into chaos as stunned onlookers watched. Read Full Story The unusual scene has drawn widespread attention online, with many describing the rush as surreal for a country like France, where such extreme heat-driven panic is relatively rare.
FLASH | La chaleur rend-elle compltement fou? Chambry, des dizaines de clients se sont rus vers les climatiseurs ds l’ouverture d’un magasin. Entre bousculades, tensions et course dans les rayons, la scne a rapidement dgnr sous les yeux des personnes prsentes. pic.twitter.com/QxELU0eYOz— Cpasdeslol (@cpasdeslol_X) June 25, 2026 The frenzy comes as much of Europe remains in the grip of an intense heatwave that has pushed temperatures to record highs and placed millions at risk.
France has emerged as one of the worst-hit countries during the ongoing heat crisis. In recent days, the country has recorded some of its hottest temperatures on record, with Paris experiencing more days above 40°C this week than during the entire period between 1872 and 2019. Meteorologists have attributed the extreme temperatures to a heat dome - a large area of high pressure that traps hot air, resulting in clear skies, intense sunshine and prolonged heat.
France’s national average temperature this week reached 29.8°C, breaking previous records based on combined day and night readings across multiple weather stations. The heatwave has also severely affected parts of Italy and Spain, regions where such prolonged extreme temperatures were once considered uncommon. Ends
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