About 20 drown in France trying to escape heatwave sweeping much of Europe
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Around 20 people drowned in France over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas to escape a severe heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 40°C (104°F) on Tuesday.
- The heatwave contributed to the deaths of two young children found unconscious in a car and three elderly individuals in the Bordeaux region due to heat-related health issues.
- France experienced record-breaking temperatures in multiple cities, leading to red heatwave alerts in 54 areas, school schedule adjustments, and strain on power grids and public services.
- The UK and Spain are also facing extreme heat, with Britain expecting temperatures above 39°C (102°F), potentially breaking June records, and northern Spain reaching 40°C (104°F), far above historic averages.
- The heatwave is caused by an "Omega block" weather pattern trapping hot air from the Sahara over Europe, with experts linking the intensity and persistence of such events to climate change.
