France has recorded 301 drownings since 19 June, marking a 14% increase compared with the same period in 2025, Minister Marina Ferrari announced Sunday. The toll has more than doubled since 15 July, when officials reported 142 fatalities.
The surge coincides with the hottest start to summer on record in western Europe. Temperatures exceeding 40°C have affected 30 million people in France since mid-June, and three-quarters of drownings occurred during three heatwaves that struck in late May, late June and early July. Authorities have also linked extreme heat to more than 7,300 excess deaths between mid-June and 22 July.
Most fatal drownings took place in unsupervised and unauthorised swimming areas, including private pools, open water and canals. 87% of those who died were adults.