Although the 2026 summer season has only just begun and has not yet reached its peak, three children lost their lives by drowning in the Adriatic Sea during the past week alone. The latest victim was an 11-year-old boy who died yesterday at a beach in Durrës.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over beach safety, raising questions about whether the main issue is the lack of lifeguards at observation towers or insufficient parental supervision of children at the beach.
Holidaymakers in Durrës shared their views on the matter.
“If children have drowned, then there has been a lack of responsibility. A lifeguard can be there, but yesterday all the sunbeds were occupied. Parents need to keep a close eye on their children. That’s how we used to do it when we were young. A child can handle two waves, but the third one can be fatal. Parents are being irresponsible,” one beachgoer said.
Another visitor added: “The coastline has almost no lifeguards at all. Only God can save you here, because nothing has really been done. There should be control points every 200 metres, equipped with binoculars like in other countries. You can drown here. The parents also share responsibility. I always accompanied my children and held their hands. Children have many wishes, but you cannot fulfil all of them.”
According to tourism operators, beach safety should be a top priority for all businesses operating along the coastline, while greater awareness and stricter oversight are also needed.
“Beach safety is a legal obligation, and many businesses are required to provide safety measures, but not all of them comply, which leads to tragedies like the ones we have witnessed. Beyond the legal obligation, operators need to be more aware of their responsibilities. Beach safety is the foundation of sustainable tourism. Parents must also play their part. Supervising children should be a shared responsibility. Public beaches attract many tourists, including some who cannot swim. There should be a lifeguard every 80 metres to monitor the beach so that we can reduce fatalities and incidents,” said Blerim Norja, a tourism operator.
On Sunday, an 11-year-old boy lost his life on a beach in Durrës after entering the sea alone. The incident has once again highlighted the need for stronger safety measures, more lifeguards, and greater parental awareness to prevent similar tragedies during the summer season.
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