Drownings surge past 300 in France amid heatwaves

France has experienced a 14% increase in drownings, totaling 301 since June 19th, compared to the previous year, due to a series of prolonged heatwaves, according to Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari. The government minister stated that the sharp rise in deaths was a tragic toll. France, along with Spain and Italy, has been affected by heatwaves this summer, resulting in massive wildfires that have scorched thousands of hectares of land.

Ferrari warned that many deadly accidents occurred in unauthorized or unsupervised swimming areas, including open water and canals. The government is working with regional authorities to improve swimming areas and enhance safety measures. Drownings, especially among the elderly, often happen in individual pools due to sudden immersion in cold water on hot days causing shock, or people exceeding their physical capabilities.

Climate change is responsible for the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, particularly in Europe, which is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average. In June, a nuclear power plant in southwest France temporarily shut down because water temperatures in the River Garonne exceeded 28C, as per French laws.

Monuments like the Eiffel Tower also closed early due to the high temperatures in Paris during the heatwave. Wildfires spread across France, affecting the Gironde region, forcing more than 200,000 people to evacuate in late July. France has recorded 7,300 excess deaths between late May and July 22nd, according to provisional figures from public health authorities.