Forty people have drowned in France since last Thursday as a severe heatwave grips parts of Europe, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has said.
Authorities say many of the deaths occurred as people sought relief from soaring temperatures by swimming in rivers and other unsupervised areas.
“It’s not something to be taken lightly, going swimming in unsupervised areas during a heatwave,” Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari told French radio.
France, Spain and Italy have been among the countries hardest hit by the extreme weather.
France records hottest June day and night
France experienced its hottest June day on record on Monday. The country also recorded its hottest June night, with an average minimum temperature of 21.6°C, according to Météo France.
More than half of the country remained under red alert as temperatures continued to climb.
Among those who died was a 13-year-old girl who entered the River Seine with her family at Fontaine-le-Port on Sunday evening. Reports said she could not swim.
In another incident, a young professional footballer remained in critical condition after rescuers pulled him from the River Rhône near Lyon. Emergency services responded after four young men got into difficulty in an area where swimming is prohibited.
Meanwhile, authorities blamed extreme heat for the deaths of two children, aged two and four, who were found inside their family’s car in a car park in the southern city of Carpentras.
Spain faces temperatures above 44°C
Spain entered its third day of a nationwide heatwave, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C in several regions.
Red alerts remained in place in Andalusia, Cantabria and the Basque Country.
According to Spain’s weather agency, Aemet, temperatures could reach 44°C in rural areas near Córdoba. Parts of the Ebro Valley could also see temperatures above 42°C.
On Monday, 101 of Aemet’s 828 weather stations recorded temperatures of 40°C or higher. The town of Andújar recorded 45°C.
Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo said heatwaves are becoming more frequent at the start of summer.
The agency noted that Spain experienced 10 June heatwaves between 2000 and 2025, compared with just two during the previous 25 years.
Italy revives worker protections
Italy issued red heat alerts in 15 cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin and Venice.
The warnings indicate conditions that can pose risks even to healthy adults.
As temperatures rise, the Italian government has reintroduced emergency labour protections for outdoor workers, including farmers and construction workers.
Companies that suspend or reduce operations because of dangerous heat can also apply for state-backed furlough support.
Germany reports drowning incidents
Germany has also reported several drowning deaths as temperatures are expected to approach 40°C in western and south-western parts of the country later this week.
The German Lifesaving Association said six people died in swimming-related incidents between Friday and Sunday.
According to the organisation, many victims were men who overestimated their swimming abilities.
Nuclear plant shuts down in France
The heatwave also forced the shutdown of the Golfech nuclear power plant in south-west France on Monday night.
Authorities took the measure because water temperatures in the River Garonne were expected to reach 28°C.
French regulations require cooling water discharged from the plant to remain below that temperature.
