The past weekend in Latvia was again marked by tragedies in the water. Rescuers retrieved the bodies of three deceased individuals from water bodies, and the total number of victims since the beginning of the year has already reached 27.
Over the past weekend, the State Fire and Rescue Service retrieved the bodies of three deceased individuals from water bodies.
The first tragic incident was recorded on Friday in Riga. Rescuers pulled the body of a deceased person from the Daugava River, which was then handed over to the State Police.
Another deceased individual was found on Sunday around noon in a pond in the Ligatne parish of the Cēsis region.
The third incident occurred in the Ozolnieki parish of the Jelgava region. In the afternoon, residents noticed a drowning person in a lake and called for rescuers. The victim was found approximately ten meters from the shore and handed over to medical personnel, but doctors pronounced them dead.
What is important to know: despite the fact that the swimming season is just gaining momentum, the statistics on water incidents are already alarming. According to the State Fire and Rescue Service, since the beginning of the year, the bodies of 27 deceased individuals have been retrieved from Latvian water bodies.
With the onset of warm weather, the number of people by rivers, lakes, and ponds traditionally increases. Along with this, the number of accidents related to swimming, fishing, or leisure by the water also rises. Rescuers regularly remind people of the need to exercise caution, avoid swimming in unguarded places, and not to overestimate their abilities in the water.
Statistics from recent weeks show that the risk of tragedies in water bodies remains high even in relatively calm weather and at familiar recreational spots.
The State Fire and Rescue Service urges residents to follow safety measures and not to leave children unattended near water, as most such incidents develop very quickly and often end tragically.
