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Date Published: 07/01/2025

2024 sets decade-high record for drowning fatalities in the Region of Murcia

Sharp rise in unguarded area fatalities and summer incidents highlights urgent need for improved water safety measures

The Region of Murcia closed 2024 with the highest number of fatal drownings of this decade, according to the Royal Spanish Lifesaving and Rescue Federation's latest report. A total of 19 people lost their lives in aquatic areas of the region, an increase of three fatalities compared to 2023. This figure, surpassed only in 2019 with 20 recorded deaths, underscores the growing concern over water safety.

In Spain as a whole, 471 people died from unintentional drownings in 2024, marking an 11.6% rise compared to 422 in 2023. This figure excludes fatalities caused by the severe weather event in October. The data makes 2024 the second-worst year of the decade for drownings, behind 2017 with 481 deaths.

Key findings from the report:

Demographics: The majority of victims were men (81.5%), over 55 years old (46.7%), and of Spanish nationality (85.6%).
Locations: Beaches accounted for 244 deaths (51.8%), followed by rivers (85) and swimming pools (57).
Surveillance: 45.22% of drownings occurred in unguarded areas, while 40.76% happened in locations where surveillance was not deemed necessary.

The summer months were particularly deadly, with 57.11% of drownings occurring between June and September. The winter period, however, saw an uptick as well, with 89 deaths, 21 more than the same period in 2023.

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