The Public Health Agency France notes that between June 1 and July 2, 109 people died by drowning. It is 58% more than at the same time of the previous year.
A total of 109 people have already died by drowning in France between June 1 and July 2, an increase of 58% compared to the same period in 2024, noted on Friday the public health agency France, which sees it as a consequence of the recent heat wave. “We make the link with the heat wave we have just suffered”said at a press conference the epidemiogist Aymeric Ung, epidemiologist for the public health agency.
The public health agency notes that between June 1 and July 2, 109 people died by drowning. It is 58% more than at the same time of the previous year. The trend is even more marked by taking into account all the drownings, including those who have not been fatal: more than 400, they have doubled in one year.
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The increase appears particularly worrying in minors. Between early June and early July, 19 were already dead while drowning, when they were less than ten the previous year. These cases mainly concern adolescents (over 13 years) and, for the most part, took place in rivers or water bodies. The contrast is striking with adults, in whom the dead have just as much place at sea.
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Almost the whole metropolis was struck
For the public health agency, the cause is clear: the second half of June was marked by a heat wave of a magnitude almost never seen during this period, extended by a strong heat wave in early July. Almost the whole metropolis was struck. “”We know that these high temperatures accentuate the dangers linked to swimming“, Insisted Mr. Ung, for whom”The danger of drowning is very real (…) in watercourses and not monitored bodies».
Noyades are therefore added, indirectly, to all the health problems accentuated by the hot weather, while these are becoming more and more frequent in a context of global warming. Public Health France will continue to monitor the evolution of drownings all summer long, a trend that generally increases with the arrival of the holidays.
