Why is the Music Festival canceled in certain cities this year? Faced with forecasts of 36 degrees in Nanterre and 40 degrees in Brittany, municipalities are prioritizing the safety of local residents and equipment in the face of the risks of illness and fire.
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Sunday June 21, it should be 36 degrees in the Paris region. Nanterre town hall preferred to take precautions by canceling the very popular Music Festival. The residents are divided. “This allows us to take more precautions for young people and the elderly too. So, in truth, it’s better to prioritize safety rather than letting go“, “It can be understood, it can be understood, but one day, when the town hall puts up trees, maybe we can continue to have Music Festivals“, reacted several local residents.
Each municipality makes its decision based on the context and temperatures. In Bréal-Sous-Montfort, near Rennes (Ille et Vilaine), the party is also canceled, but here, we are understanding. “Prevention, above all, in relation to the heat: 40 degrees, ok. The little Bretons, we would like it to be a little less”, indicates a resident. In Bouscat, near Bordeaux (Gironde), they are the most disappointed. These music school students were supposed to play tomorrow evening. Their teacher feared staying in direct sunlight. “With the heat, you have to wait a lot, the equipment too. Everything: amps, instruments, in the sun, it’s quite dangerous”justifies Gabriel Garcia, piano teacher.
3,000 people were expected to attend the party. The mayor made this decision reluctantly, notably because of the food stands. “We couldn’t have a barbecue, we couldn’t set up the fryers, and so there were lots of problems ahead of us”declares Gwenaël Lamarque, mayor of Bouscat (Gironde).
In Paris, the party is going on for the moment, but the mayor fears the cocktail of heat, alcohol and proximity to water. Alcohol is also the great fear of emergency workers. “The subject today is to be extremely vigilant with these high temperatures, not to add with overconsumption of alcohol, a risk of discomfort which could lead to the triggering of emergency services, which could be avoided with preventive measures and explanation to the general public”explains Lieutenant-Colonel Éric Brocardi, spokesperson for the national federation of firefighters of France. The Minister of Culture also calls for extreme vigilance so that the festival is as beautiful as last year.
