This swimming season, 44 fishermen have drowned in Belarus, 25 of whom were drunk. 

October 22, MINSK . During the OSVOD Republican Council meeting to summarize the 2025 swimming season, Andrei Chernyavsky, Chairman of the OSVOD Republican Council, discussed who is most at risk of drowning, BelTA reports.More than half of the deaths in water are caused by swimming in a state ofALCOHOL intoxication . Tragic incidents often occur in areas not equipped for swimming. People also die due to failure to follow safety rules when swimming or swimming in cold water. Causes can include poor HEALTH or illness, jumping into water in unequipped areas, or leaving minors unattended.

"This year's swimming season saw an increase in the number of drownings while fishing—44 people, 25 of whom were intoxicated," said Andrey Chernyavsky.

He noted that men are the primary risk group . "This is likely due to riskier behavior, alcohol consumption, and the prevalence of fishing as a hobby," the chairman explained. "Furthermore, a significant proportion of drownings are pensioners and people with disabilities. Typically, this is due to health problems, loss of coordination, loneliness, and insufficient social support."

According to Andrey Chernyavsky, unemployed people are also at risk. "Unemployment, depression, alcohol abuse, and lack of employment can lead to people spending more time in dangerous situations," he said. "And minors die in the water, typically due to inadequate adult supervision or children being left unattended."

"Despite the decline, the number of fatalities remains significant, confirming the urgency of water safety," the chairman emphasized.