Forty drown in France as people seek relief from Europe’s heatwave

PARIS/MADRID: Forty people have drowned in France over recent days as they sought to cool down to escape record heat, the prime minister said on Tuesday, as a heatwave swept across much of Europe.

Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Spain were also sweltering in extreme heat, with record temperatures in some areas disrupting schools and transport networks and forcing tourist sites - including the Eiffel Tower - to shut.

Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organization, making such prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely.

Heat alert across France

Much of western and central France is experiencing temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), Meteo France said, with up to 43 C expected. The country on Monday recorded its hottest afternoon and night since records began in 1947.

Fifty-four departments are under red alerts in what the forecaster said was unprecedented. That will jump to 58 on Wednesday, with four more departments in northern France added.

“Thursday will once again be a sweltering day, with temperatures remaining just as high. On Friday, a gradual drop is expected to begin from the Atlantic coast,” Meteo France said.

Across the country, people have been jumping into canals and rivers to cool off. Sports minister Marina Ferrari said she understood the urge to escape the heat but warned against swimming in unauthorized or dangerous areas.

Speaking ahead of an emergency meeting on the heatwave, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said: “A sad scourge when it comes to drownings, as the latest figures just reported to us show 40 deaths since June 18, most of them young people.”