18 drown during Moscow heat

Eighteen people died in Moscow's ponds and river on Saturday during a heat wave in the city

Eighteen people died in Moscow's ponds and river on Saturday during a heat wave in the city. For more than a week, temperatures have soared daily into the high 30s centigrade.

Since the beginning of the swimming season on June 1st, 211 people have drowned in Moscow, including 160 this month, the city's ambulance service said. Most of the victims were reportedly drunk.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter