33 PEOPLE DROWNED IN CYPRUS IN 2025 - 73% OF VICTIMS WERE MEN - IN WHICH PROVINCES DID THE TRAGEDIES OCCUR? - Filenews 24/7
A total of 33 people died in aquatic environment in Cyprus in 2025, while worldwide about 300.000 people die every year from drowning, of which 75.000 are children under the age of five, according to data presented on Friday at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, on the occasion of the National Day for the Prevention of Drownings and Marine Accidents, which is commemorated on July 25.
The data was presented by the representative of the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, Eliza Karabetian, who stated that of the 33 deaths recorded in Cyprus in 2025, 28 occurred at sea and five in inland waters. 73% of the victims were men, 61% were foreign or non-Cypriot nationals, while 15 of the victims were over 70 years old.
According to the same data, 36% of the incidents occurred between the hours of 20:00 and 08:00. By province, ten deaths were recorded in the free province of Famagusta, nine in Limassol, six in Larnaca, two in Paphos and one in Nicosia.
Ms. Karabetian also mentioned that, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization, drowning continues to be one of the most important public health problems internationally, with about 300,000 deaths per year, pointing out that the main goal of the Safe Water Sports organization is to prevent deaths in the aquatic environment through information and education.
At the conference, the competent Ministers of Health and Education and the Deputy Minister to the President underlined that the prevention of drownings is a government priority and presented the actions implemented in the framework of the National Action Plan for Safety in the Aquatic Environment.
In her greeting, the Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, which was read by an official of her Office, noted that July 25 was established two years ago as National Drowning Prevention Day, in harmony with the corresponding World Day, with the aim of raising public awareness of a serious public health issue.
Despite a 38% reduction in global drowning mortality compared to 2000, according to the World Health Organization, about 30 human lives are still lost every hour from drowning, with almost half of all deaths involving people under the age of 29 and one in four children under the age of five.
Referring to the situation in Cyprus, Ms. Piki said that the data of the Health Monitoring Unit show that in the last 21 years 533 people have died from drowning, with the average annual number of deaths in the last decade amounting to 29. He added that about half of the deaths concern people aged 65 and over, while drowning is among the leading causes of death of children and adolescents up to 18 years old.
He also pointed out that 51% of the incidents concern tourists and non-permanent residents of Cyprus, while 68% of the victims are men, underlining that "every life lost in the water is a loss that could have been avoided".
The Deputy Minister reminded that the National Action Plan was approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2024 and is already being implemented as the main institutional framework for the promotion of targeted prevention policies.
He made special reference to the safe swimming program for children up to 12 years old and the educational program for the aquatic environment, noting that it includes eight practical lessons in the water, which are integrated into the school curriculum and are provided free of charge.
As he said, the third phase of the pilot program is underway and will be completed in November 2026, when a total of about 1.200 students will have benefited, while since the start of the program in April 2024 more than 2.000 students of the third grade of primary school will have participated.
"We consciously focus on our children and our schools, where we can cultivate a proper culture, attitudes and behaviour of the aquatic environment from an early age and we do not stop at the theoretical level, the program includes a complete cycle of 8 lessons in the water, which are integrated into the school curriculum, are offered free of charge and are accompanied by the necessary equipment, giving our children the opportunity to acquire basic swimming skills," he said.
At the same time, he announced that the creation of an interactive educational space (Ocean Lab) is being considered, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, through which students will be trained in safe behaviour in the water.
Ms. Piki also referred to the operation, from the beginning of 2025, of the Accident Observatory, through which data on incidents in the aquatic environment are collected and analyzed. As he said, the first annual report of the Observatory is a valuable tool for the development of evidence-based prevention policies.
At the same time, he noted that the Safe Water Sports App utilizes Port Police data and provides citizens with information about beaches, accessibility, rescue services and other useful information.
He also referred to the legislative interventions that have been promoted, noting that "from January 2026, a new framework for yachts is being implemented, while from July 2025 a new legislative framework for the operation of swimming pools is in force". He added that a bill on recreational diving is pending in Parliament and the modernization of the legislation on beaches is being promoted.
For his part, the Minister of Health Neophytos Charalambidis described the prevention of drownings as an integral part of public health policy, stressing that the protection of human life begins "long before the emergency services have to intervene".
As he said, the sea is an integral element of the life of Cypriots, however intimacy with it should not lead to complacency, as "drowning can happen in a short time and often quietly".
The Minister called on citizens to never leave children unattended, to respect the instructions of lifeguards, to avoid swimming when conditions are dangerous and to seek immediate help when they find that someone is in danger.
"Constantly supervising children, following lifeguards' instructions, avoiding swimming when conditions are dangerous, and seeking help in a timely manner can prove to be lifesaving," he said.
He noted that the establishment of July 25 as the National Day for the Prevention of Drownings and Marine Accidents is a reminder of this responsibility. "It gives us the opportunity to talk openly about the risks and offer citizens knowledge that can save lives," he said.
He also stressed that information should be addressed to all groups of the population – children, parents, the elderly, marine professionals and visitors to the country – especially during the summer season, when beaches and swimming areas gather a large number of citizens.
The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michailidou, underlined that the cultivation of a culture of safety in the water must start from childhood, characterizing swimming not only as a sporting activity but also as a basic survival skill.
She said that the Ministry is actively involved in the implementation of the National Action Plan from 2024, noting that through the Safe Swimming Program, children not only acquire basic swimming skills, but also learn the rules of safe behaviour in the aquatic environment.
Mrs. Michaelidou described the results of the pilot implementation of the program as particularly positive and assured that the goal is to gradually expand it to all provinces and, ultimately, to all schools in Cyprus, so that every child acquires equal opportunities for education in safe swimming.
Ms. Michailidou said swimming is not just a sports activity, but a fundamental survival skill, as it strengthens children's self-confidence, cultivates responsibility and can, in critical moments, be decisive for their lives.
The Minister noted that it is with this philosophy that the "Safe Swimming Program for Children" was designed and implemented. It is, she continued, a pioneering institution that is realized through the fruitful cooperation of the Ministry of Health, the Cyprus Sports Organization, the Pedagogical Institute and the Non-Profit Organization Safe Water Sports of Greece.
Ms. Michailidou underlined that the successful pilot implementation of the program during the 2023-2024 school year confirmed its added value for children and the educational community. She added that after these positive results, the Ministry is proceeding with the gradual expansion of the program to more provinces and school units. "Its implementation in the current school year 2025-2026 is another important milestone," she added.
Concluding, the Minister said that the progress of the National Action Plan to date proves that the mobilization of the State, the competent services, the scientific community and civil society produces tangible and substantial results.
