Germany records nearly 100 drowning deaths, many of them young men, in June heatwave

Authorities confirm worst toll in more than 20 years, as extreme temperatures in Europe force early closure of Eiffel Tower

Nearly 100 people, the largest proportion of whom were young men, died by drowning in Germany last month, authorities have said, as extreme temperatures in western Europe that have been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths geared up again.

In Germany’s worst death toll from drowning for more than two decades, 99 people died in June, according to official figures, after temperatures rose as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas.