France’s ongoing heat wave has turned deadly, with at least 40 people drowning over the past five days. Soaring temperatures pushed many residents to seek relief in lakes, canals, and other unsupervised swimming areas. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the death toll during an emergency Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, describing the number as a “tragic scourge.” Officials said most of the victims were young people, including many teenagers, swimming in bodies of water without lifeguards or safety supervision. Marina Ferrari, a government official in France, warned that swimming in unsupervised areas can be especially dangerous during extreme heat events. The fatalities come as France endures one of its most intense heat waves in history. More than half of the country remains under the highest-level heat alert, with temperatures expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Paris and as high as 109 degrees in parts of central France. Weather officials said France also recorded its hottest night since national measurements began in 1947. Forecasters attribute the extreme conditions to a powerful “heat dome” that has trapped hot air across much of Europe.
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