More than 90 people have drowned in France over the past 15 days—a surge directly linked to the intense heatwave gripping much of Europe. French Minister for Sports and Youth Marina Ferari announced today (2 July 2026) that the initial death toll stood at 74, but updated figures now show at least 90 drowning fatalities since 19 June.
‘A Worrying Number’
Speaking on RMC radio, Ferari said: ‘Since 19 June, we have recorded more than 90 drownings. This is a worrying number.’
Following an initial heatwave at the end of May, France experienced a second wave during the second half of June—mirroring conditions across the continent. Authorities are now bracing for yet another challenging heatwave this weekend.
‘We’ve seen a decrease in drownings over the past few days, which clearly correlates with people seeking relief from the heat in water,’ Ferari explained.
No Single Profile — But Clear Risks
The minister stressed there is no single demographic profile among victims. However, very young children are especially vulnerable and must never be left unsupervised near water. She also highlighted risky behavior among teenagers and young adults—including jumping off bridges or entering canals without supervision.
Ferari acknowledged a critical shortage of swimming pools, particularly in rural areas, due to outdated infrastructure and lack of renovation. To address this, her ministry has redirected funding from the National Sports Agency toward pool modernization and construction—initiated several months ago.
She also noted ongoing efforts to make lifeguarding a more attractive profession, as pools cannot legally open without certified lifeguards on duty.
Rethinking Water Safety Education
‘We need to rethink swimming education for open-water environments,’ Ferari said. ‘As today’s tragedies clearly show, most accidents aren’t happening in pools—but in lakes, rivers, and canals. Swimming in a lake is vastly different from swimming in a pool.’
Drowning deaths have also been reported in other heat-hit European countries, though final figures remain pending: at least 56 in Poland, two in Belgium, five in Germany, and nine in England.