“69 children have already died”: Interior Ministry appeals to Kazakhstani parents

Tengrinews.kz — The Ministry of Internal Affairs has appealed to Kazakhstani parents, urging them to strengthen supervision of their children while resting near water, citing Polisia.kz.

The Interior Ministry said it had analyzed accident cases. The department is particularly concerned about the growing number of water-related tragedies involving children.

“It is no secret that with the onset of hot weather, many children spend their days at rivers and lakes. Since the start of the swimming season, 69 children have already drowned in bodies of water,” said Arman Sadanov, chairman of the Interior Ministry’s Committee for the Coordination of Preventive Activities.

According to police, most accidents occur while swimming in unequipped areas. Children often rest on unofficial beaches where the bottom has not been inspected and where strong currents and whirlpools may occur.

Another cause of tragedies is the lack of proper supervision by adults. According to the Interior Ministry, parents or other accompanying adults often consume alcohol while resting, leaving children unattended.

The Interior Ministry reminded citizens that swimming in prohibited areas entails administrative liability under Article 364 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,700 people have already been held accountable.

Police urged Kazakhstanis to follow simple safety rules:

• avoid swimming in places not equipped for this purpose;
• watch children while resting near bodies of water and do not leave them unattended;
• explain to children that swimming in unfamiliar places may pose dangers such as strong currents, stones or debris, hidden whirlpools and so on;
• moreover, swimming in cold water during extreme heat is dangerous to health, as a sudden temperature change can cause vascular spasms and cramps.

As a reminder, a tragedy that claimed the lives of two children recently occurred in the Akmola region. The girls drowned in a car that rolled into the water.