Heatwave hits France. Photo credit: ANIAround 20 people have drowned in France since the weekend as soaring temperatures drove many to rivers, lakes and other unsupervised swimming spots, authorities said on Tuesday. The deaths came as a severe heatwave continued to grip large parts of Europe.French sports minister Marina Ferrari said the deaths took place as people sought relief from extreme heat affecting large parts of the country."There have been around 20 deaths since last weekend," Ferrari told France Inter radio."To go swimming in unauthorised areas, during a heatwave, is not something to take lightly," she added.According to Reuters, much of France was expected to experience temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. The French government's emergency response cell had earlier warned people against cooling off in unsupervised water bodies after 13 drowning deaths were reported over the weekend.The heatwave has also been linked to other fatalities. French media, citing prosecutors, reported that two children aged two and four were found dead in a family car in the southern town of Carpentras on Monday. Government messages urged parents not to leave children unattended in vehicles.France was facing a prolonged heatwave, with even the nighttime temperatures staying above 20 degrees Celsius across many parts of the country.A red heatwave alert has been issued across more than half of France's departments, affecting an estimated 39 million people. 1,350 schools were closed on Monday, while many others curtailed classes as authorities sought to protect children from the heat, AP reported.The heatwave extends beyond France. According to AP, the United Kingdom's weather office has issued an 'extreme heat' warning for large parts of southern England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius.The World Health Organization's Europe office said earlier this month that more than 2,00,000 people across Europe had died from heat-related causes over the past four years.