Nearly 100 people, the largest proportion of them young men, drowned in Germany during June as extreme temperatures gripped western Europe, marking the country's worst such toll in more than two decades, authorities say.
Key facts
- 99 people died by drowning in Germany in June, according to official figures.
- It is Germany's worst drowning death toll in more than 20 years.
- The largest proportion of victims were young men.
- Temperatures reached as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas.
- The Guardian reports the wider heatwave has been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths across western Europe.
- Extreme temperatures forced the early closure of the Eiffel Tower in France, according to the Guardian.
Nearly 100 people died by drowning in Germany last month during an extreme heatwave, authorities have said, in what marks the country’s worst toll of its kind in more than two decades. According to official figures, 99 people died in June as temperatures climbed as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas.
The largest proportion of those who died were young men, according to the figures. The deaths occurred as extreme temperatures affected western Europe.
The Guardian reported that the extreme temperatures in western Europe have been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths, with the heat returning after the June spell.
In France, the extreme temperatures forced the early closure of the Eiffel Tower, according to the Guardian.
It is not yet clear from the official figures what specific factors contributed to the individual drownings.
Why it matters
The drowning toll is Germany's worst in more than two decades and coincides with a heatwave that the Guardian reports has been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths across western Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How many people drowned in Germany in June?
According to official figures reported by the Guardian, 99 people died by drowning in Germany in June, the country's worst such toll in more than 20 years.
How hot did it get during the heatwave?
Temperatures rose as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas, according to the Guardian.
Who were most of the drowning victims?
The largest proportion of those who died were young men, according to the official figures cited by the Guardian.