Seven drown off France's Med coast SEVEN people have drowned off France's Mediterranean coast because of high winds and strong currents, police and rescue services say. Since Friday a total of nine people have died in similar circumstances. The fire department said the drownings were caused by strong southeast winds of up to 130km/h. The winds produced strong currents, it added. "People venture out to sea and can't make it back," a fire department official said. We experience this type of event at least once per summer, but this weekend's toll is heavy, above the norm.