Total of 112 Water-Related Deaths Over 5 Years... 48% Concentrated in August

[Financial News]  


The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has urged special caution for water-related accidents during the summer vacation season.
According to the Ministry on the 30th, there have been a total of 112 deaths from water-related accidents over the past 5 years from 2020 to 2024, with 48% or 54 of them occurring in August.
In particular, in early August, the peak of the summer vacation, the number of deaths reached 27.
The main causes of accidents were negligence in safety such as not wearing life jackets at 37%, poor swimming skills at 34%, swimming under the influence of alcohol at 17%, and high waves (rapid currents) at 7%.
In August, accidents caused by toxic marine animals such as jellyfish were also frequent. During the same period, 2,082 sting cases occurred in August alone, the highest on a monthly basis.
In summer, high temperatures and humidity cause food to spoil quickly, making it easy to be exposed to food poisoning.
There were a total of 1,352 cases of food poisoning over the past 5 years, with the highest number of 196 cases occurring in July, the rainy season, followed by 163 cases in August.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety advised for a safe summer vacation to ▲ wear life jackets and avoid swimming after drinking ▲ stay hydrated and protect from sunlight during outdoor activities ▲ avoid direct sunlight when storing food.
Kim Joo-i, Director of the Safety Policy Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasized, "It is crucial for individuals to prioritize safety, especially during vacations away from daily life," and urged, "Please fully understand and prepare for preventive measures to ensure a safe vacation without accidents."

ktitk@fnnews.com Tae-kyung Kim Reporter