As diplomats negotiated in the cool Swiss mountains, much of Europe was enduring punishing heat. France imposed restrictions on public alcohol consumption and outdoor sports as temperatures soared. The measures reflect a growing urgency: according to the World Health Organisation’s Europe office, more than 200,000 people across the continent have died from heat-related causes over the past four years — and most of those deaths were preventable.
In Germany, the heat drove people into lakes and rivers with tragic results. Three people drowned over the weekend, and three more swimmers were reported missing. Authorities warned that many people continue to underestimate the dangers of natural bodies of water, even as extreme heat makes them increasingly inviting.
