LETTER | Authorities must address rising drowning cases

LETTER | There have been a lot of drowning incidents in the country of late.

In most cases, it was small children and young adults who became the victims and a large number of them come from the Malay community.

There are hardly any reports of older people drowning in the rivers and pools as they are more aware of the risks and dangers.

Rural villages, unlike urban housing estates, have plenty of spacious open places with streams and rivers that entice adventurous youngsters.

Many of these waterways are clear and pristine and children would like to take a dip or swim in these inviting small rivers.

However, many do so with only their peers, without their parents or other adults around.

The abrupt rains are an added danger as even a heavy downpour far away could bring a surge in water levels which the children are not prepared for.

Most of the children and youngsters do not know swimming and are swept away easily by the strong currents. Strong currents below, even when the surface is seemingly calm, are a real danger.

Some safety measures need to be taken to prevent drowning of innocent children. There are village committees in every village nationwide and they need to identify potential hazards, especially for children.

Signboards could be placed in certain sections of streams, small rivers and ponds to warn the children of the danger.

Village elders and committee members can hold briefing sessions on safety guidelines including giving out handbills and pamphlets pertaining to the risks and dangers of swimming and fishing during school holidays especially in villages that border small and large rivers.

The government needs to take a serious view of the drowning incidents involving children which, if accumulated on a yearly basis, has reached critical levels.

The need to protect children’s safety can also be highlighted in the various media during rainy spells and the monsoon period. Floods are also a danger to children.

Water surges

A few days ago, the nation was shocked at the water surge tragedy in the Jeram Mawar waterfall, which swept away eight picnickers.

Water surges, especially in hilly or mountainous waterfalls or streams, are an unpredictable danger.

Streams that are a few kilometres long, especially in hilly areas and which experience heavy downpours uphill, could bring down a torrent of water on unsuspecting vacationers downstream.

Usually, it is the heavy rains in the hilly and mountainous areas that trigger the surge.

Another danger could be when landslides, rocks or fallen branches and twigs cause a huge volume of water to dam up upstream.

At some point, the blockage gives way during heavy rain, resulting in a surge that can sweep away unsuspecting picnickers and vacationers bathing downstream.

This kind of danger can be averted only if there is a monitoring process, especially at popular vacation spots, which are prone to trigger water surges, during rainy spells.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.