Hospitals overwhelmed as Europe heatwave shifts east

A deadly European heatwave that has seen temperatures soar to record highs was expected to shift east.

At least 55 people have drowned in France amid the heatwave, the country's sports minister said this morning, warning the death toll could rise further.

"Yesterday evening we were at 55, but we fear that the situation may worsen," Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told broadcaster franceinfo.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said earlier this week that 40 people - many of them young - had drowned since June 18, many while swimming in unauthorised places to escape the searing heat.

Scientists said in a study that climate change was "unequivocally" responsible for the heat that broke records in Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland, while the Netherlands issued its first-ever red alert over heat.

With French hospitals overwhelmed, authorities took the rarely used step of banning evening alcohol sales and public consumption in Paris starting today and into the weekend.