A devastating tragedy has unfolded in southern France amid an intense heatwave sweeping across much of Europe, with two young children discovered dead inside a parked vehicle.

The children, aged two and four, were found on Monday in the town of Carpentras in southeastern France. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 1 p.m. local time after the children were discovered in a family car parked in a residential area of the Bois de l'Ubac district.

According to local authorities, the children's mother made the heartbreaking discovery. Investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death, although officials say the ongoing extreme temperatures are a major focus of the investigation.

Hélène Mourges, the local prosecutor, stated that inquiries are continuing but noted that the severe heat currently affecting the region is being closely examined as a possible contributing factor. Temperatures in Carpentras were forecast to climb to around 39C on the day of the incident.

The tragedy comes as France experiences one of the most intense early-summer heatwaves in recent years. A powerful mass of hot air originating from the Sahara Desert has moved northward across Europe, creating what meteorologists describe as a "heat dome." The phenomenon occurs when a strong high-pressure system traps hot air over a region, causing temperatures to rise steadily over several days.

Large areas of western and central France are expected to exceed 40C, while some parts of Europe could approach 45C as the heatwave continues through the week.

Carpentras Mayor Hervé de Lépinau expressed shock following the incident, describing the deaths as a devastating tragedy for the community.

French authorities have issued more weather alerts across the country, with nearly half of mainland France's departments now under the highest level of warning. Officials have warned that the current conditions could become comparable to the deadly 2003 heatwave, which claimed thousands of lives nationwide.

Mathieu Lefevre, France's junior minister for ecology, described the event as both unusually intense and exceptionally early for the season.

The soaring temperatures have already disrupted daily life across the country. Hundreds of schools have either closed or shortened teaching hours to protect students and staff from the extreme heat. Government figures indicate that 845 schools remained shut on Monday, while around 1,800 others introduced reduced schedules.

Many residents sought relief in rivers, lakes, and swimming pools over the weekend. However, authorities reported 13 drowning deaths, including that of a 13-year-old girl. Emergency officials have urged people to avoid swimming in unsupervised locations despite the temptation to cool off.

The heatwave also affected public events. During France's annual Fête de la Musique celebrations, authorities imposed restrictions on alcohol consumption in several areas due to concerns about health risks associated with drinking in extreme temperatures.

Popular tourist attractions have also been forced to adjust plans. The Louver Museum canceled a free outdoor concert beneath its iconic glass pyramid as a precaution against the severe weather.

Teachers and parents have voiced growing concerns about classroom conditions. One primary school teacher in the Bordeaux area reported indoor temperatures reaching 32C last week, warning that learning environments are becoming increasingly difficult during prolonged periods of extreme heat.

Forecasters expect the hot weather to persist until at least Thursday, with the possibility of temperatures climbing even higher in some regions before conditions begin to improve.