France faces rise in fatal drownings amid heatwave

France is experiencing a rise in fatal drowning incidents during a period of intense heat. In Seine-et-Marne, authorities report that 21 people have died from drowning since the beginning of the summer, primarily occurring in unsupervised or prohibited swimming areas.

Recent tragedies include the death of a 52-year-old man in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Vendée, who was swimming outside a monitored zone, and a 19-year-old man at Lac du Vorgey in Ambronay, who also drowned in an unsupervised section of the water.

In response to these risks, a new decree has increased penalties for swimming in prohibited areas or ignoring red flags at beaches. Violations that were previously first-class contraventions are now third-class offenses, carrying a fixed fine of 68 euros. Authorities are urging the public to use authorized, supervised sites and are warning against following social media influencers who promote dangerous, unmonitored swimming spots.