The French disaster relief agency reported at least 13 drowning deaths over the weekend while several European countries face a severe heatwave with record temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. French authorities have suspended train services and ordered the closure or schedule adjustments of nearly 2,700 schools.
France’s Civil Security Office revealed that the intense heatwave sweeping the country resulted in at least 13 drowning deaths over the past weekend. Jérôme Boulangé, the agency spokesperson, stated that on Sunday alone, 10 people drowned, and later that evening in the Île-de-France region, two more deaths occurred, including a 13-year-old girl.
Boulangé warned those seeking relief from the heat to swim only in areas strictly supervised by lifeguards. “The best way to cool off is to take a shower; it’s not necessary to go to swimming pools or lakes. If you see someone drowning in prohibited areas such as lakes or rivers, do not jump in to rescue them yourself for safety reasons. Instead, immediately call emergency services at 18 or 112. For private pool owners, adults must supervise children closely and never take their eyes off them,” he said.
The French National Meteorological Institute issued a red-level heat alert—the highest warning—in 49 administrative departments, covering over 35 million people. Temperatures in Bordeaux, in southwestern France, are forecast to exceed 42 degrees Celsius. Stéphanie Rist, France’s Minister of Health, acknowledged the country is experiencing prolonged extreme heat and said it is uncertain when temperatures will begin to decline.
This heat crisis has severely impacted transportation. The Île-de-France public transit authority announced the cancellation of one in ten train trips on every line to prevent damage to tracks and aging train cars from the intense heat. They also distributed over 400,000 bottles of water to passengers. Moreover, nearly 2,700 schools across France have been temporarily closed or had their schedules adjusted to ensure student safety.
Not only France but also Spain is affected, where the National Meteorological Agency issued a red alert in the Basque region. San Sebastián recorded temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius—almost double the historical average for this time of year. At night, residents receive no respite as temperatures remain above 25-30 degrees Celsius in some areas, such as Almería province.
Climate monitoring agencies report that Europe is the continent with the greatest deviation from historical average temperatures worldwide, with an average high of 24 degrees Celsius—4.1 degrees above the 1961–1990 baseline. This contrasts with Asia and North America, which are 2 and 1.3 degrees above their respective averages.
The extreme weather is also severely affecting wildlife. In Belgium, the Creaves Wildlife Rehabilitation Center reported struggling to care for wild animals suffering from heat stress, especially birds like swallows and sparrows that typically nest under house eaves.
Romain de Jaegere, a biologist and founder of the center, explained that roof temperatures can soar to 50-60 degrees Celsius, forcing birds to "jump out of their nests" as a better option than drying out or being cooked alive in their nests. Over just three days, the center has admitted more than 150 heat-affected wild animals.