Paris, France. Forty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas in France since the weekend, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday, as a heatwave affected much of Europe. Britain, Italy and Spain were also experiencing extreme heat, with record temperatures in some regions disrupting schools and transport networks.
Heatwave impacts in France
Much of France was under severe heat alert and was set to experience temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, Meteo France said, with temperatures of up to 43C expected in some parts of western France.
Across the country, youngsters and others have been jumping into canals and rivers to cool off. French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said she understood the urge to escape the heat but warned against swimming in unauthorized or dangerous areas.
Speaking ahead of an emergency meeting on the heatwave, Lecornu said there had been 40 drownings attributable to the heatwave since June 18.
Extreme heat across Europe
Britain, Italy and Spain were also facing extreme heat, with record temperatures in some regions disrupting schools and transport networks.
Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organization, making prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely.
Weather pattern and climate factors
The current heatwave is being driven by a weather pattern known as an Omega block, named because it takes the shape of the Greek letter, with a bulge of hot air in the middle and cooler air on either side.
Meteorologists said the system is creating a heat dome, trapping hot air over western and central Europe and allowing temperatures to build day after day.
Heatwaves and storms are being intensified by climate change, pushing temperatures higher and causing more rainfall.
Children found in car
On Monday, first responders were unable to resuscitate two children, aged 2 and 4, who were found unconscious by their mother in the family car outside their home, according to a prosecutor in Carpentras in southeast France.