politics
At Least 40 Drown in France as Europe Endures Record Heat Wave and Heat-Related Disruptions
French authorities reported at least 40 drownings since June 18 as residents sought relief from extreme temperatures. Meteo France recorded the country's hottest day ever at 111.7 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday and placed 54 departments under red alert.
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At least 40 people in France have drowned in recent days while trying to escape a heat wave that has affected much of Europe, Washington Examiner reported. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described the deaths as a tragic scourge and said the toll had occurred since June 18.
France recorded its hottest day ever on Tuesday with a temperature of 111.7 degrees Fahrenheit in a town in the southwest, according to Meteo-France.
The agency placed 54 departments under a red heat wave alert the same day. Sports Minister Marie Barsacq urged residents to avoid swimming in unauthorized or hazardous areas. Parisians bathed in the Canal Saint-Martin on Tuesday to cool off.
Meteorologists attributed the heat wave to an Omega block weather pattern that traps hot air. Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain also experienced extreme temperatures. Record heat disrupted schools and transportation networks and forced closures including at the Eiffel Tower.
Spain's national weather agency issued red alerts for parts of the country with forecasts reaching 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Dozens of municipalities in northern Spain canceled traditional bonfires due to wildfire risk. A primary school near Brussels in Belgium moved its final exams to a nearby church because of the heat.
Authorities in Switzerland's northeastern canton of St. Gallen restricted water withdrawals from rivers and lakes. The continent of Europe is warming at roughly twice the global average rate, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
