Latest news with #GermanLifeSavingAssociation
See - Sada Elbalad
15 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
15 Drown in Germany During Heatwave Weekend
Israa Farhan Germany experienced its deadliest weekend of drownings this year, with at least 15 people losing their lives, according to the German Life Saving Association (DLRG). The incidents, which occurred over the recent weekend, mark one of the worst drowning tolls in the past decade. Martin Holzhause, a spokesperson for the DLRG, told the German Press Agency (dpa) that the final number could rise as authorities continue to assess all reported cases. He described the tragedy as a grim milestone in what has already become a worrying trend for water safety in Germany. According to the DLRG—one of the world's largest volunteer water rescue organizations—Germany has seen a steady rise in drowning deaths for the third consecutive year. In 2024 alone, the country has recorded 411 drownings, an increase of 31 fatalities compared to 2023. Holzhause attributed the growing risk to climate change, explaining that longer and hotter summers are pushing more people toward unsupervised water bodies, increasing the likelihood of accidents. He added that while it is normal for the number of incidents to spike during warm weekends, the scale of last weekend's fatalities was alarming and unprecedented. To reduce the rising death toll, Holzhause urged local authorities to expand supervised swimming areas and public pools across the country. He emphasized the need for preventive safety measures, including increased lifeguard presence and better public awareness of the risks associated with open-water swimming, especially during extreme heat. The DLRG's call to action highlights the urgent need for enhanced water safety infrastructure as Germany continues to face the dual challenges of climate change and public health. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
DW
19 hours ago
- Climate
- DW
Germany updates: Rescuers record deadly weekend for swimmers – DW – 06/26/2025
Germany's top water rescue agency has sounded the alarm after a particularly deadly weekend — with more hot weather on the way. For the latest updates, follow DW. After a brief period of sunny weather, the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) says the country saw one of the worst periods for fatalities at swimming spots in a decade. It was the deadliest weekend so far this year, with rescuers lamenting a growing trend of tragedies and more sweltering weather on the way. Meanwhile, Germany's Friedrich Merz continues a string of summit debuts as chancellor, as he meets EU counterparts in Brussels. Back home, lawmakers in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, are set to debate troop deployments and the latest situation in the Middle has recorded its deadliest weekend for swimming accidents so far this year — and one of the worst in the past decade — according to the German Life Saving Association (DLRG). At least 15 people died last weekend, DLRG spokesman Martin Holzhause told the RND media group. "It was the deadliest weekend this year and one of the deadliest in the past 10 years," he said, noting that the final number may rise as not all cases have been confirmed. The DLRG, which describes itself as the world's largest voluntary water rescue organization, said drowning fatalities in Germany have increased each year for the past three years. In 2024, 411 people drowned — 31 more than in 2023. "On hot weekends, the risk of accidents while swimming always increases. But I cannot explain why so many people died last weekend," Holzhause said. He added that climate change is contributing to a higher drowning risk by increasing the number of hot summer days. "This also increases the dangers posed by heat," he said, calling for more supervised swimming areas across the country. from DW's newsroom in Bonn, and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in Germany on Thursday, June 26. Germany has just seen one of its deadliest swimming weekends in a decade, with at least 15 drownings. Rescuers who reported the figures warn that climate change and too few supervised spots are raising the risk, with another hot weekend expected. Meanwhile, the German Bundestag is set to debate the fallout of the recent conflict between Israel and Iran and the extension of Bundeswehr troop deployments in Lebanon and Kosovo. For all of the latest news from Germany, stay tuned here.
