In brief
France’s Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari reported 301 drownings from mid‑June, a 14 % jump from last year, attributing the spikes to the country’s prolonged heatwaves. The minister cited accidental immersion in open water, rivers, canals, and private pools as key hazards, noting that sudden cold shock can cause death. The National Climate Service confirmed France is warming twice as fast as the global average, with the heat contributing to widespread wildfires and an excess of 7,300 deaths between late May and 22 July. Authorities are coordinating with local forces to create safer swimming areas and educate the public on risks.
France’s 301 drownings since June 19: Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari announced that the number of deaths – a 14% increase compared to 2025 – rose in parallel with the country’s heatwave conditions.
Ferrari warned that many incidents occurred in places not authorised or supervised for swimming, including canals, rivers, and private pools. She highlighted that sudden immersion in cold water on hot days can lead to shock, and some individuals may exceed their physical limits.
The ministry is collaborating with regional authorities to improve swimming areas and public safety. In June, a French nuclear power plant was temporarily shut down due to river water temperatures reaching 28°C, the threshold for cooling reactor water.
Related articles: Drowning deaths soar in France as Europe buckles in peak of heatwave (23 June).
Climate research shows France is warming twice as fast as the global average. According to the Copernicus Climate Service, the country’s heat is contributing to widespread wildfires, eroding more than 200,000 hectares of land, especially around Bordeaux’s Gironde region. Excess deaths in France between late May and 22 July tally 7,300, according to provisional public health figures.
