France records 40 drownings as Europe heat wave pushes temperatures higher
Why it matters: Red alerts span parts of France, Spain and Italy, with Spain forecasting highs above 44C and Germany also reporting fatal swimming incidents.
France has recorded 40 drowning deaths since last Thursday as a punishing heat wave drives people into rivers, canals and other unsupervised waters, officials said. The country logged its hottest June day on record Monday and its warmest night, with a nationwide minimum average of 21.6C, according to Météo France. More than half of France was on red alert. Among the dead was a 13-year-old girl in the River Seine at Fontaine-La Port. In Spain, the Aemet weather service said some southern areas could top 44C, with 40C or more already recorded at 101 stations Monday. Italy placed 15 cities, including Rome and Milan, under red heat alerts, while Germany also reported several fatal swimming incidents.