France’s brutal heat wave has turned deadly, with at least 40 people drowning in just five days as desperate residents rushed to cool off in lakes, canals and other dangerous swimming spots.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu revealed the grim death toll during an emergency Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, calling the string of deaths a “tragic scourge.”
Officials said many of the victims were young people, including teenagers, who had gone swimming in areas without lifeguards or safety supervision.
As temperatures soared, families across the country searched for any way to escape the punishing heat. But authorities are now warning that canals, lakes and other unsupervised bodies of water can quickly become deadly, especially when people are exhausted, overheated or unfamiliar with the area.
Marina Ferrari, a French government official, urged residents to avoid risky swimming spots during extreme heat, saying the danger is even greater when people panic or underestimate the water.
The deaths come as France battles one of its most intense heat waves on record. More than half the country remains under the highest-level heat alert, with Paris expected to hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit and parts of central France facing temperatures as high as 109 degrees.
Weather officials also said France recorded its hottest night since national measurements began in 1947, giving millions of people little relief even after the sun went down.
Forecasters say the extreme conditions are being fueled by a powerful “heat dome” sitting over much of Europe, trapping scorching air in place and sending temperatures to dangerous levels.
Officials are now pleading with the public to stay indoors during peak heat, check on vulnerable neighbors and only swim in supervised areas as the deadly heat wave continues.
