France reports 14% rise in drownings amid heatwaves, minister says

France has recorded 301 drownings since June 19, a sharp increase of 14% compared with the same period last year, Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari said on Friday. She described the numbers as a “tragic toll” and linked the rise to the prolonged heatwaves that have affected large parts of the country.

Ferrari told France Inter radio that people have been taking greater risks by entering water to cool off, often in places that are not authorised or supervised for swimming. “Many deadly accidents have occurred in areas that are not authorised or supervised for swimming,” she said, noting that a number of drownings took place in open water, including canals.

The minister also highlighted risks in private swimming pools. “Many drownings, particularly among the elderly, occurred in individual pools,” she said. She explained that sudden immersion in colder water on a hot day can cause shock, and in some cases people may exceed their physical capabilities.

The government is working with regional authorities “to improve swimming areas and make things safer,” Ferrari said. She had earlier warned in June that too many people were trying to cool off in rivers and canals without taking the risks into account.

The heatwaves are part of a broader pattern affecting southern Europe. France, Spain and Italy have experienced extreme temperatures, which have triggered massive wildfires that scorched thousands of hectares of land. Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world, but Europe is warming faster than other continents. According to the Copernicus climate service, Europe is heating up at twice the global average rate.

Officials have repeatedly urged people to swim only in designated and supervised areas, to check water conditions, and to be cautious when entering cold water. The rise in drownings has prompted renewed calls for public awareness campaigns and improved safety measures at popular swimming spots.