The Minister of Sports and Youth of France, Marina Ferrari, has updated this Friday the death toll from drowning in the country since June 19, the date on which successive heat waves began, and has put the number of deceased at 131, compared to the 90 initially counted, in a context of red alert due to high temperatures.
During a visit to Maisons-Alfort, in the department of Val-de-Marne, the minister specified that a significant portion of the deceased were "under 18 years old" or "over 60 years old," according to "Le Figaro."
This Friday, the French authorities have once again declared a red alert in Île-de-France, the Paris region, for the second time this summer, an unprecedented event that occurs just three weeks after the previous heat wave.
The national meteorological service, Météo France, has indicated that this area, with about 12 million residents, is thus under the maximum level of vigilance for the second time this year, a situation considered historic since official records exist.
Starting Saturday, the alert is expected to extend to more than twenty departments, including the entire metropolitan area of Paris, which will affect almost 22 million people. Forecasts point to morning low temperatures between 22 and 25ºC and highs that could reach 40ºC, with peaks of up to 42º.
According to forecasts, the extreme heat episode will reach its peak between Sunday and Monday and will last, at least, until July 15, with a probable extension of orange and red alerts. Meteorological models place the end of this new heat wave around July 16 or 17.
To the health impact of high temperatures are added the associated energy problems. The state-owned company Électricité de France has warned that the increase in the water temperature of the Seine River could force a limitation of electricity production at the Nogent nuclear power plant, in the center of the country, starting July 14. In addition, yesterday a reactor at the Golfech nuclear power plant was shut down due to the same heat wave.