France hits all-time record temperature at 44.3

France has hit its highest ever recorded temperature -- 44.3 degrees Celsius -- amid a heatwave in Europe which is disrupting normal life, claiming lives as well as prompting governments to issue health alerts.

The new record was measured in the southern town of Carpentras. The previous record was 44.1 degrees Celsius during a heatwave in 2003 that killed thousands.