Videos show confusion over air units in France amid heat wave The suffocating heat wave that has hit France in recent weeks – with the three hottest days on record, according to the Météo-France meteorological service – has led supermarkets to reinforce stocks of fans and air conditioners. Demand, however, is so intense that scenes of fights between consumers have been recorded in several stores. See the video above. ? Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp The most recent episode of extreme heat, with temperatures approaching 40°C in 81 French departments and a maximum of 44.3°C in the Landes department, in the southwest of the country, had consequences for both the health and daily lives of the population. According to the French Public Health Agency, in the week of June 22 there was a 29.1% increase in the number of deaths, with 2,025 more deaths compared to the previous week. At the same time, long queues formed in front of supermarkets in search of fans and air conditioning units. Although retail chains, such as Lidl, have replenished stocks – with more than 200,000 ventilators distributed among their stores – the rush for equipment turned shopping into scenes of chaos. In a Paris supermarket, consumers arrived more than two hours before the store opened, forming a queue of around 200 people. Despite the presence of the police, videos recorded by customers show riots, pushing, fighting and even people feeling sick, but without giving up the products they managed to get. In some images, consumers appear physically attacking each other, while supermarkets become true battlefields. MORE "We sold 700,000 ventilators in just three weeks, an increase of almost 200%," he said. The demand for equipment far exceeds the available supply. The crisis caused by high temperatures also fueled a parallel resale market. While the Lidl chain sells an air conditioning unit for €179 (around R$1,000), the same model is already advertised for up to €700 (more than R$4,000) on private sales platforms, such as Leboncoin. With the forecast of a new heat wave for this weekend, authorities fear that the scenes of turmoil in supermarkets will be repeated, as well as the resale of fans and air conditioners at prices considered abusive. French people buy fans and air conditioning units during heat wave Reuters VIDEOS: most watched on g1