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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.
