Image via NWS San Juan.
Over the weekend, two tourists died while others were rescued from rip currents at beaches across the island, highlighting the need for the government to act to prevent further tragedies.
Two tourists drowned this weekend in Puerto Rico after getting caught in dangerous ocean rip currents.
On Saturday, Nino Correa, commissioner of the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration (NMEAD), began to warn beach-goers of the hazardous swimming conditions at local beaches. But unless tourists are following the local news, they are often unaware of these warnings.
On Sunday night, two children and an adult from Massachusetts entered the beach behind La Concha Resort in San Juan and were swept away by strong waves. The adult and an 11-year-old boy were rescued. However, a 12-year-old boy, who was a friend of the family, drowned. His body was recovered by a group of divers on Tuesday morning.
In addition to the death of the 12-year-old, a 40-year-old man from Canada drowned on Flamenco Beach in Culebra. Other incidents of people getting swept away by ocean currents were reported in Fajardo, Aguadilla, Manatí, and San Juan over the weekend.
As a result, politicians have asked hotels and the government to put up signs warning visitors of the danger and to provide lifeguards.
Henry Neumann, president of the Senate Public Safety Commission, arrived to the area and said that he has been requesting lifeguards for this beach for more than a year.
Pedro Santos, a volunteer rescuer at the beach next to La Concha hotel, told Telemundo that this year he has already rescued 12 people who were close to drowning. He added that on a daily basis he warns anywhere from 20 to 30 bathers of the dangers at the beach.
Nitza Moran Trinidad, senator for the district of San Juan, announced on Tuesday that she filed a measure to require all hotels located in front of a beach to provide lifeguards and information on maritime conditions.
The risk of rip currents across many of the local beaches is expected to continue this week.
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