At least 40 people drowned in France while swimming in unsupervised areas during an intense heatwave, according to officials. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said after a crisis meeting that the deaths recorded since the previous Thursday involved mainly young people.
Sports Minister Marina Ferrari warned that entering unauthorized swimming areas during extreme heat carried serious risks. The drownings occurred as people sought relief from temperatures that rose above 40C in parts of the country. Authorities did not provide individual details for all 40 cases at that stage.
Meteo-France said the period from Monday to Tuesday was the hottest day recorded nationally since its observations began in 1947. Its national temperature indicator, calculated from daytime and overnight readings at 30 stations, reached a provisional 29.8C. Les Herbiers in southwestern France recorded 43C, while Bordeaux, Poitiers and other cities set local records.
The weather service placed 54 areas under red heatwave alerts. Schools closed early or adjusted schedules, and prominent Paris attractions shortened opening hours. The Eiffel Tower was set to close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Louvre said it would close at the same time from Wednesday through Saturday because heat accumulated late in the day and large visitor numbers made conditions difficult for visitors and staff.
Other deaths were also being examined in relation to the heat. Local authorities said high temperatures were the most likely explanation after two children, aged two and four, were found unconscious in a car outside their home in Carpentras. Three people aged between 80 and 95 died in the Bordeaux region from heat-related health problems, according to local official Sophie Brocas.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that the following days posed serious health dangers across Europe and urged people to check on those most vulnerable. Meteo-France expected similarly oppressive conditions on Thursday, followed by a gradual easing from the Atlantic coast on Friday.
The heat extended beyond France. Forecasts warned of temperatures above 39C in parts of Britain, while Spain and Italy also faced exceptional conditions and high-level alerts. In France, however, the drowning toll highlighted a distinct secondary hazard: seeking immediate relief in places without supervision. Officials’ message combined conventional heat precautions with a warning that improvised swimming could create an additional, acute risk during the emergency.
France has limited household and institutional air conditioning compared with some countries facing similar heat, increasing pressure on schools, museums and public spaces. The red-alert coverage and altered opening hours were preventive measures. They should not be read as evidence that the 40 drownings occurred at those closed institutions or in red-alert departments only.
