75 children drowned during the bathing season, 58 people drowned to death

MDA data shows that 58 people drowned to death during the 2026 bathing season, which began in April. 75 of the drowning victims were children up to age 10. A total of 287 people were treated after being pulled from the water. The CEO of MDA calls for supervising children near water.

According to MDA data, 58 people drowned to death during the 2026 bathing season, which began in April and ended yesterday (Saturday, October 10). This is a slight increase compared to 57 fatalities in the previous season. In total, MDA medics and paramedics treated 287 people who were pulled from the water at beaches, pools, and water reservoirs. 261 of the patients drowned — a 9% decrease in the total number of drowning victims compared to 2025. 26 people were pulled from the water without vital signs, and an additional 32 were evacuated to hospitals where their deaths were later determined. Nearly 24% of all drowning victims (75 cases) were toddlers or children up to age 10, and about 20% (52 cases) were children and teenagers up to age 19. 143 drowning incidents occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, 36 in private pools, and the same number in public pools. MDA Director General Eli Bin said, "Behind every such number stands a person and a family whose lives changed in an instant," and called for entering the water only at declared beaches during lifeguard service hours.