Deadly European Heat Wave Drives Swimmers to Risky Waters

At least 40 people have died in France in recent days after swimming in unsupervised areas where bathing is banned, as an exceptional heat wave grips western Europe. Several more deaths were reported in Germany. Authorities say millions of residents are turning to rivers, reservoirs, and other waters to cool off, often putting themselves in danger.

France is expected to hit its peak heat on Wednesday, with 41 degrees Celsius forecast in Paris and 43 in Bordeaux. Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari warned, “This is not something to take lightly, going swimming in unsupervised areas during a heat wave.” She said too many people are heading to water without considering the risks. The country has already recorded its hottest June day since measurements began, along with its warmest night ever, when the minimum temperature averaged 21.6 degrees Celsius. More than half of France is under a red alert.

The crisis has spread across the continent. Spain saw 45 degrees in Andujar and more than 44 degrees near Cordoba. Spanish meteorological official Ruben del Campo said there is evidence that heat waves are now occurring more often at the start of summer than in previous decades. Italy declared a state of emergency in 15 major cities, while Britain is bracing for its hottest June day on record, with 40 degrees expected and school closures planned.

The deaths in France include a 13-year-old girl who could not swim and drowned in the Seine in front of her family, a young professional footballer who was critically injured after being pulled from the Rhone in an area where swimming is strictly forbidden, and two children aged two and four who died after being found in a locked car in a parking lot. In Germany, three men were recovered from the Rhine, and the German lifeguard association warned that men often overestimate their abilities in the water to escape the heat, with temperatures there also forecast to reach 40 degrees. Netherlands and Belgium have activated national emergency plans for the heat, while infrastructure and tourism sites are being hit hard. France shut the Golfech nuclear power plant because the Garonne River reached 28 degrees, the legal cooling limit, and Paris closed the Eiffel Tower hours early. Ile-de-France president Valerie Pecresse urged residents to work from home and avoid public transport, saying railway tracks cannot withstand temperatures above 50 degrees and that major disruptions are expected. Italy’s government also introduced special labor protections allowing construction and agricultural workers to stop working during peak hours and receive state compensation.