Twelve children aged 4 to 16 have drowned in rivers and lakes in Tajikistan this summer, Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
In all cases, carelessness of adults and parents has become the main cause of the tragedies, Yusufi noted.
Over the first summer month (June) alone, 28 people, including 9 teens under the age of 16, have reportedly drowned in rivers and lakes of Tajikistan.
Despite the Emergencies Committee repeated warnings to observe water safety rules and do not swim in inappropriate places, people continue neglecting their own safety and violate all sorts of prohibitions at their own peril and risk, the Emergencies Committee spokeswoman said.
Recall, 64 people, including 28 teens under the age of 16, drowned in rivers and lakes of Tajikistan over the first 40 days of summer last year.
