Volgograd: locals complain about deficit of beaches

The experts of the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) explain the large number of deaths in the water bodies of the Volgograd Region, among other things, by the deficit of places for bathing. Volgograd residents have confirmed that the city has not enough beaches.

Today, Volgograd held a sitting of MfE officials with representatives of natural parks, children's camps and tour operators, dedicated to people's safety on water bodies of the region, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Over the past five years, more than 700 people drowned in region's water bodies, including over 70 children, said Alexander Annenkov, the chief expert of the division of people's safety on water bodies of the Chief Department of the MfE for the Volgograd Region.

"Main reasons of deaths in water are violations of rules of safe behaviour on rivers and lakes, including the state of intoxication, swimming in unorganized and untested bodies, which are out of control by local authorities and emergency rescue teams," he said.

According to Mr Annenkov, another reason is the deficit of children's summer camps.

He also noted that this year the region has 1.5 beaches per 100,000 of population; therefore, people are forced to bathe in unexamined bodies.

By the outcomes of the sitting, draft guidelines will be prepared for travel agencies, said Mikhail Kireev, the deputy director of the "Tourism Development Agency" of the Volgograd Region.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.