Interior Ministry issues warning after 244 people drown

According to Interior Ministry data, 244 people have drowned in 476 incidents this year. When the number of drowning deaths increased with increasing air temperature, a circular on ‘measures to be taken to prevent drowning in water’ was sent from the ministry to the governorates.

It was stated that the measures to be taken are of great importance in terms of preventing the loss of life that may occur in seas, lakes and ponds, dams, irrigation canals, stream beds and pools.

The circular, asked officials to determine and announce to the public which places such as sea, lake, pond that do not pose a risk to life safety should be used as places eligible for swimming by end of March. The circular included following safety measures to be put into practice:

* Going into water in the areas of sea, lake, pond, dam, irrigation canal, stream, irrigation and animal drinking water ponds, flood trap, regulator, water transmission, discharge or flood control channel and similar areas, other than those mentioned in above paragraph will definitely not be allowed. Signs and warning signs will be placed. Additional measures will be planned for these areas.

* Swimming limits (up to 200 meters from the shore) will be marked in swimming areas and warning signs will be kept.