Two young brothers, aged four and two, have died after being found unresponsive inside a parked car during an intense heatwave in southern France.
The children were discovered on Monday afternoon in the town of Carpentras outside their grandmother’s home. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but efforts to revive the boys were unsuccessful after they suffered cardiac arrest amid temperatures that reached about 40°C.
Authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
According to French media reports, the children’s mother, aged 33, initially told investigators that she had left the boys in the vehicle after returning from a shopping trip. However, later accounts reportedly differed, with her stating that the children may have re-entered the car without her knowledge while she was unloading groceries.
A neighbour described hearing the mother scream when she realised what had happened, saying she appeared to be in a state of extreme shock.
The children’s bodies have been transferred to a forensic institute in Nîmes, where autopsies are being conducted as part of the investigation.
The incident comes as much of France and other parts of Western Europe experience a severe heatwave. Meteorologists say a powerful high-pressure system, often referred to as a “heat dome,” has trapped hot air over the region, causing temperatures to exceed 40°C in several areas.
Health experts warn that temperatures inside parked vehicles can rise rapidly to dangerous levels, even when windows are partially open, creating life-threatening conditions within minutes, particularly for children.
The tragedy has renewed warnings from authorities about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles during periods of extreme heat.
