At least 72 people have died by drowning in the Philippines this month, police said yesterday, attributing the unusually high figure in part to millions going to the beach for Holy Week.
The holiday is traditionally marked in the Catholic-majority nation by millions of people leaving the capital, Manila, to spend time with family.
The high toll was partly due to “revenge travel” as the country emerges from years of mobility restrictions to contain COVID-19, Philippine National Police spokeswoman Colonel Jean Fajardo said.
Photo: EPA
“People got a bit excited to go to beaches and resorts,” Fajardo said.
A breakdown of the fatalities was not immediately available, but Fajardo said the victims included children who were left unattended by guardians while swimming.
They also include people who went to beaches while drunk, she said.
Fajardo called the death toll “unusual” and higher than previous years.
“Resorts and beaches were packed. This also contributed to the number of drowning incidents,” she added.
Drowning is the third-highest cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, with an estimated 236,000 fatalities annually, the WHO said.
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