Thirteen Deaths in Just Over a Day: Drowning Incidents Rise Amidst Heatwaves

France is currently enduring an oppressive heatwave, with the intense heat expected to escalate further on Monday. Health authorities are issuing stark warnings, highlighting a direct correlation between periods of extreme heat and a rise in drowning incidents across the country. They are urging the public to exercise extreme caution.

Tragically, in a span of just over 24 hours, thirteen individuals have lost their lives due to drowning. Jérôme Boulanger, spokesperson for Civil Security, confirmed to BFMTV that "at least 13 people" drowned between Saturday evening and Monday morning. In the Île-de-France region alone, two people, including a minor, drowned on Sunday evening after 9 p.m. These incidents occurred in Seine-et-Marne.

The prosecutor's office in Melun reported that one of the victims was a 14-year-old Afghan girl who drowned while swimming in the Seine at Fontaine-le-Port, an area where swimming is prohibited. Other reported drownings include a 28-year-old man in the lake of Hommes (Indre-et-Loire), a 16-year-old in a river in Poitiers, two individuals in Besançon after seeking refreshment in a river where swimming was banned, and a 17-year-old in Dordogne under similar circumstances.

This heatwave, the second of the summer, has led Météo France to issue red vigilance for heat in 49 departments, affecting 35 million residents. Given the ongoing and anticipated heat, the Civil Security spokesperson strongly advises the public to swim only in supervised areas. The problem of drownings is not new; the summer of 2025 saw a significant increase, with 1,418 drownings and 409 deaths recorded between June 1 and September 30. This figure represents a 14% increase compared to the summer of 2024.