A heatwave is expected in Francethis weekend, forcing officials to put some regions under heatwave alert and increase vigilance to avoid a repeat of a fatally hot summer in 2003.

Health Minister Marisol Touraine announced on BFM TV that a plan would soon be announced to better protect the elderly and other vulnerable people.

"We must be careful not to panic and, at the same time, be aware that when temperatures increase, there are precautions to take," the minister added.

According to Meteo France, the country's meteorological office, temperatures will climb to 36 degrees Celsius on Saturday in Paris. In southwest France, temperatures are expected to hit 37 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

"It will be the hottest days of summer this year," Francois Jobar from Meto France told BFM TV.

In 2003, some 15,000 people died from causes attributable to the heat in France. The heatwave also caused the death of 35,000 people across Europe.