The beaches of southwestern France, on the coast of New Aquitaine, were put on maximum alert on Sunday and Monday due to the danger of baïnes.
The south-west beaches at Baïnes are on maximum alert from Sunday 23 June to Monday 24 June due to strong sea currents that may sweep bathers out to sea.
“We have deployed a rescue force, a helicopter, which allows for completely safe swimming between the two flags in areas under the supervision of lifeguards.”.
“Baïnes are a strong current that breaks free and takes you out to sea. If you have enough composure, you can let it take you and then leave again. But generally, people struggle, they get exhausted and “You have to be very careful.”, warns the mayor of Lacanau.
Bathers who let themselves be surprised are “those who swim three or four kilometers from the clinics” while it exists “red flags marked “baïnes zone” must be especially careful”.
In 2023, fourteen bathers died in the baths on the Atlantic coast, according to the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture.
The 2024 season began with the first casualty on April 14 in Cap-Ferret in the Gironde, when a 40-year-old died while swimming despite the maximum alert.