Yemen: Eight drowning cases recorded in several governorates within two days

Eight people died in separate drowning incidents in a number of Yemeni governorates during the past two days, coinciding with the filling of dams and water barriers in light of the continued heavy rainfall witnessed throughout the country.

Local sources said that the young man, Abdullah Salem Al-Atiqi, died (Thursday) by drowning in a water barrier in the Al-Saeed Directorate in Shabwa Governorate (southeast of Yemen).

The sources explained that the tragic incident caused the death of Al-Atiqi's mother, who witnessed the death and was unable to save him, which caused her to suffer a heart attack, after which she passed away, shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital.

The incident came a day after similar incidents in the governorates of Al Dhale, Hadhramaut and Al Hudaydah, according to the security media of the Ministry of Interior.

The ministry said that 4 girls died by drowning in a water barrier due to the accumulation of rain torrents in Wadi Al-Muqalled in the Al-Shars Al-Saylah area in Al-Dhale’ Governorate, due to their inability to swim.

She added that 3 other people died in separate drowning incidents in Hadhramaut and Hodeidah governorates.

In this context, the Civil Defense Authority warned citizens of the dangers of children and those unable to swim being in areas where rainwater collects, water barriers, ponds and dams, and warned against neglecting children in those places, which represent a real danger and certain death, given their inability to swim and their poor assessment of the risks to their lives.

The Authority called on citizens to be careful and cautious not to be in the paths of rain torrents, especially with the continuation of the low pressure system and the continued heavy rainfall in various regions and governorates of the country.