Heatwave safety warning as drowning toll rises across region
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Authorities are urging caution around water following a sharp rise in drowning deaths linked to the current European heatwave.
A serious public safety warning is in force across the Côte d'Azur and wider region as a sustained heatwave drives swimmers and bathers into the sea, rivers and pools in large numbers. In France alone, more than 40 people have died in swimming-related accidents in under a week, prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to treat the situation as a national concern.
For residents and visitors in Monaco, the combination of high temperatures and heavy beach use at Larvotto and the surrounding bays raises the same risks. Authorities are reminding people never to swim alone, to avoid entering the water after prolonged sun exposure, and to keep a close watch on children at all times near any body of water.
The warning applies equally to boat owners and those enjoying watersports from Port Hercule or the surrounding marinas. Fatigue and heat impairment are cited as key factors in many of the recent incidents, and conditions are expected to remain extreme through the coming days.