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  Today Online 28 Feb 06
Up to 50 people drown along coastline a year: Minister

AN AVERAGE of some 40 to 50 people die along Singapore's coastline a year, including those along the Sentosa beaches. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang (picture) revealed this figure in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question on whether the lagoons at Sentosa are safe for swimming.

In Sentosa alone, there were five drowning incidents last year, and in the most recent case in January, two of the drowned victims were suspected to have consumed alcohol. In all the drowning incidents, the victims had strayed outside the roped-in areas designated for swimming, the minister added.

The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has a team of lifeguards manning the beaches daily from 9am to 7pm, and regularly maintains the sand gradient along the beaches to make sure the waters are safe to swim in.

But its efforts alone will not be enough, said Mr Lim. He said: "The public has to play its part too and take precautions for their personal safety.

Sentosa's beaches are not enclosed lagoons but are part of the open sea. In this environment, swimmers will be exposed to the natural tidal wave and wind conditions, as well as marine creatures.

"Hence, beach-goers at Sentosa are strongly advised to exercise the same level of caution as they would in open sea," said Mr Lim.
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