At least 40 people have drowned across France while swimming in unauthorised areas as a major heatwave crisis continues to affect several parts of Europe.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the deaths, describing the situation as a “tragic scourge” during the ongoing heatwave, with most of the victims being vulnerable people.

“The latest figures we’ve received are 40 deaths since 18 June. Most of the victims are young people. We’re experiencing an episode of exceptional intensity. Every day and every night, local and national temperature records are being broken,” he said.

Mr Lecornu added that the government is implementing measures with ministers to raise awareness about water safety as the summer heatwave begins, with several parts of the country experiencing temperatures above 40°C.

The country’s meteorological agency, Météo-France, has issued high-level heat alerts on Tuesday, with temperatures exceeding 40°C across several cities for the first time since record-keeping began in 1947.

The agency has urged residents to avoid unnecessary sun exposure and remain cautious around water at all times.

The heatwave has also shortened daily life across France, with two of the world’s most visited tourist sites, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, reducing their opening hours due to extreme temperatures.

The weather crisis has affected other parts of Europe, including Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, raising high alerts and prompting safety measures.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also warned about the wider climate crisis during the London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026 on Tuesday, saying that rising temperatures signal the growing impact of global warming.

“A climate crisis is pushing us deeper towards higher temperatures and closer to catastrophic tipping points, and an energy crisis is exposing the folly of a world hooked on hydrocarbons,” Mr Guterres said.
In Germany, five individuals were confirmed dead over the weekend due to swimming-related accidents, and authorities issued warnings for residents to adhere to safety measures.

In Spain, almost the entire country was placed under heat alerts, with red warnings issued in parts of Granada, Córdoba, Bilbao and Cantabria due to the “extraordinary danger” posed by the temperatures.

Spanish weather officials said more than 100 weather stations recorded temperatures of 40°C or higher, while some areas experienced unusually warm nights with temperatures remaining above 25°C.