A transformer failure occurred in the Brittany region in northwestern France due to abnormal heat, leaving about 68,000 homes without power, the prefecture of the country’s Finistere Department said.

“The power outage is currently ongoing: about 68,000 homes in the southwest of the department are still without power. Due to technical reasons, the RTE electricity network operator will not be able to restore power today. The homes will be reconnected [to the power grid] no earlier than June 24,” the local authorities said in a statement on X.

Due to the abnormal heat, on Wednesday the highest level of danger—“red”—was declared in 58 departments of France, and “orange” in 31 others.

Due to the heatwave, the work schedule of nearly 10 thousand educational institutions in the country was temporarily suspended or changed, and the movement of railway transport was also limited.

According to the latest data, at least 5 people have died, and another 40 have drowned in reservoirs in France. All this is also associated with extremely high temperatures in the country.