Death Beaches in Algeria… A Worrying Rise in Drowning Cases Despite Warnings
Algerian beaches are witnessing a worrying increase in drowning cases, especially in remote and unguarded areas, with an average of 3 to 5 deaths recorded weekly. The victims are often young people and teenagers who risk swimming in dangerous beaches, particularly in the provinces of Chlef, Boumerdès, Mostaganem, and Tipaza along the coastline.
Rescue teams recently carried out 1,178 interventions, saving 874 people from certain death. Within just 24 hours, four new deaths were recorded.
Despite prior warnings issued by the relevant authorities about rough sea conditions and red flags raised along the coastline during the weekend, several drowning incidents were reported due to ignoring precautionary instructions.
Civil Protection services clarified, through statements published on their official Facebook pages, that swimming under such conditions poses a real danger and urged citizens to avoid taking risks, especially on unguarded beaches. Their teams also intensified awareness campaigns for vacationers to reduce accidents.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Ministry of Interior, Local Authorities, and Urban Planning called on parents to take responsibility for monitoring their minor children to prevent drowning tragedies, particularly in prohibited or poorly secured locations.
The Ministry announced, via a post on its official social media pages, that 50 of the recorded drowning victims were minors, describing the number as “alarming.” It urged parents to exercise extreme vigilance, especially during leisure periods, and to prevent their children from going to unguarded beaches or dangerous water complexes.
Social media reports indicate that most drowning incidents occurred on beaches classified as “high-risk areas,” which annually record the highest death rates due to water depth, sudden drops, and invisible currents.
During the 2023 summer season, 162 drowning deaths were recorded across the country, including 70 cases on unsafe beaches and 49 cases on beaches licensed for swimming.
