PARIS — French authorities confirmed Tuesday that roughly 20 people have drowned since the weekend, as residents across the country sought ways to cool off during a dangerous heatwave gripping large portions of Europe.
Weather forecaster MeteoFrance reported that much of France was expected to see temperatures climb to around 40 degrees Celsius — the equivalent of 104 degrees Fahrenheit — on Tuesday alone.
French sports minister Marina Ferrari spoke about the rising death toll during an appearance on France Inter radio. “There have been around 20 deaths since last weekend,” she said.
Ferrari also issued a direct warning to the public about the dangers of swimming outside of designated, supervised areas during such extreme conditions. “To go swimming in unauthorised areas, during a heatwave, is not something to take lightly,” she stressed.
