PARIS: France has recorded more than 300 drowning deaths this summer, with officials warning that repeated heatwaves across Europe may be contributing to the sharp increase.
Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari said on Sunday that 301 people had drowned in France since June 19, representing a 14% rise compared with the same period in 2025.
Ferrari described the figure as a “sad toll” and linked the increase to the repeated heatwaves that have affected France and other European countries this summer.
She said the extreme heat had encouraged more people to seek relief in rivers, lakes, beaches and other bodies of water, while some swimmers had taken unnecessary risks.
“Lots of people have sought to hit the water, with risky behaviour,” Ferrari said.
She also warned that many fatal incidents occurred at locations that were not authorised or supervised for swimming, increasing the dangers for people attempting to cool down during periods of extreme heat.
Drowning Deaths Rise Sharply
The latest figures show a significant increase in drowning deaths compared with last summer.
On July 15, Ferrari had reported an initial total of 142 deaths, meaning the number has more than doubled since that earlier update.
The government is warning people to take greater care when swimming, particularly during periods of extreme temperatures when more people are likely to enter the water.
Swimming in unsupervised locations can increase the risk of accidents because there may be no lifeguards, safety equipment or immediate emergency assistance available.
France has experienced repeated periods of unusually high temperatures this summer, as much of Europe continues to face extreme heat.
The intense weather has encouraged people to seek relief in swimming pools, rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
However, officials say the increase in swimming activity has also contributed to dangerous behaviour in places where swimming is prohibited or not monitored.
The connection between extreme heat and increased drowning risk is particularly concerning as climate change contributes to more frequent and intense heatwaves.
France is not alone in dealing with severe weather conditions.
Across Europe, repeated heatwaves and periods of exceptionally high temperatures have contributed to record-low river levels, major wildfires and thousands of heat-related deaths.
France’s national weather service, Meteo-France, has warned that temperatures in southeastern parts of the country could reach 35C, with the hot conditions expected to spread to other areas as the week progresses.
The agency has also warned that climate change is likely to make future summers hotter than those experienced in previous decades.
Experts have increasingly linked the growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events to human-caused climate change.
Hotter temperatures can have direct health consequences, while also changing people’s behaviour.
During heatwaves, more people seek access to water to cool down, potentially increasing exposure to dangerous swimming conditions.
Officials are therefore urging people to choose authorised and supervised swimming areas and avoid taking unnecessary risks in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.
The impact of extreme heat has extended beyond France.
Both France and the United Kingdom have recorded thousands of excess deaths during heatwaves earlier this year, highlighting the wider public-health consequences of increasingly intense summer temperatures.
The latest French drowning figures add another dimension to the dangers associated with extreme heat.
As temperatures continue to rise, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant, follow swimming safety advice and avoid entering unauthorised or unsupervised waters.
With more hot weather forecast across parts of France, officials are warning that the combination of extreme heat, increased swimming activity and risky behaviour could continue to pose a serious threat.
