France records 131 drowning cases since June 19 amid severe heatwave

French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said on Friday that 131 people had drowned in the country since June 19, as France and large parts of Europe grapple with heatwaves.

Last week, French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn stated that France recorded approximately 2,025 excess deaths during the heatwave that struck the country in June, with a notable increase in fatalities among individuals aged 45 and older.

The term "excess deaths" refers to the difference between the actual recorded figures and the number of deaths that would normally be expected in the country under typical conditions during this period.