Drownings, environmental doctors: "Between June and July, 31 deaths have already occurred in lakes and rivers."

Between June and July alone, 31 deaths were recorded in Italy's lakes and rivers , an average of one victim every two days. These numbers are up from last year, when 22 deaths were recorded between June 1 and July 15, 2024.

The data comes from the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) , which calls for "greater prevention and more local controls." Every year in Italy, approximately 400 people drown in water (sea, lakes, rivers, streams), while worldwide, drowning deaths have reached 2.5 million in the last decade alone.

Considering the cases that have emerged in the national and local press, between June and July alone, 31 bodies have already been found in the waters of Italian rivers and lakes, an average of one every two days - estimates Sima - Every year, 236,000 people die from drowning worldwide: the accidents occur in the open sea, in rivers, but also in swimming pools just a few centimeters deep and in home bathtubs.

According to the WHO, the most frequent victims are children between 1 and 4 years old, followed by those between 5 and 9. "The inland waters of rivers and lakes can hide great dangers," says SIMA President Alessandro Miani. "On the one hand, there are whirlpools and currents in rivers, on the other, suddenly deep lake beds and difficulty climbing back to shore, especially when the shore is rocky, caused by algae adhering to the rock, making it slippery. The death figures tell us that more prevention is needed in Italy, by raising public awareness of basic safety rules and increasing inspections and bans."