Overview
- The Préfecture de Nouvelle-Aquitaine placed beaches in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes, Gironde and Charente-Maritime at maximal risk for baïnes for the weekend of July 3–5.
- Baïnes are narrow rip-current corridors formed by breaking waves and sandbanks that can pull swimmers rapidly offshore while appearing calm from the beach.
- The prefecture urges people to swim only in supervised zones, to keep constant watch over children, and to avoid entering the water when tired, unwell or after drinking alcohol.
- The Société nationale de sauvetage en mer tells anyone caught in a baïne not to fight the current but to float, signal for help and swim parallel to the shore to escape.
- Officials warn the alert comes during a busy holiday weekend and follows a recent spike in drownings, which could increase lifesaving calls and change how people use the coast.