Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari warned against the dangers, saying: “To go swimming in unauthorised areas, during a heatwave, is not something to take lightly.”
The deaths come as much of France braces for temperatures close to 40°C, with forecasters warning of extreme conditions across large parts of the country.
The heatwave has already led to at least 20 deaths in France, including two young children who died after being left in a car in the south-east.
Emergency responders said they were unable to revive the children, aged two and four, after they were found unconscious outside their home.
Elsewhere, three elderly people died over the weekend in the Bordeaux region from heat-related illnesses, underscoring the risks posed to vulnerable groups.
Authorities say the combination of intense heat and unsafe attempts to cool off is creating a dangerous situation. France’s Civil Safety agency has urged people to swim only in supervised areas, noting a sharp rise in drowning incidents during heatwaves.
The current heatwave is pushing temperatures to record levels across Europe. In France, Bordeaux reached 41.9°C, breaking a record set just last year, while Poitiers climbed to 41.2°C, exceeding a record dating back to 1947.
Paris is also expected to record one of its hottest June days, with temperatures forecast to exceed 38°C.
The extreme conditions extend beyond France. In Spain’s northern city of San Sebastian, temperatures are forecast to hit 40°C, far above typical levels for June.
Meteorologists say a slow-moving high-pressure system, often referred to as an “Omega block”, is driving the heatwave by pulling hot air from North Africa into Europe and trapping it over the continent.
Scientists warn that climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and more intense. Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
“This is a system drawing warm air up from the Sahara,” said climate researcher Clair Barnes, adding that the pattern’s slow movement leaves little relief from heat or wind.
High temperatures are also affecting infrastructure and the environment. In Italy, authorities have issued red heat alerts in multiple cities, while power grids in parts of the country are under strain from increased demand.
Wildlife has also been impacted, with rescue centres reporting an influx of birds suffering from overheating as temperatures in roof spaces rise to extreme levels.
The heatwave is expected to intensify in other countries, including the United Kingdom, where forecasters say temperatures could break long-standing June records.
Across Europe, officials are urging people to take precautions, particularly as the combination of extreme heat and unsafe behaviour, such as swimming in unmonitored areas, continues to drive fatalities.
The situation highlights the growing risks posed by prolonged heatwaves, as authorities balance immediate safety concerns with longer-term challenges linked to climate change.
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