Drownings skyrocket in capital as temperatures soar
Serhy Sharhaev, a 35‑year‑old security guard, and his son Nikita, 11, hit the beaches at Hydropark on July 4 for the first time this summer.
“Last year we were going to Hydropark in early June, Sharhaev lamented. “We like the heat and hope there will be more sun.”
Sharhaev echoed the sentiments of many Kyivans who wondered if summer would ever come this year. Late spring rains turned into early summer downpours that dampened the fun for many of the city’s youth who tend to spend their school vacations lounging on the beaches of the Dnipro River.
This year, Kyiv beaches didn’t fill up until the last week in June when summer weather descended on Ukraine, attracting more people to the cooling Dnipro waters.
With the deluge of people, came an increase in drownings. A total of 36 people drowned in Ukraine in the last week of June, bringing the death toll for the month to 119, The Associated Press reported on July 3.
People tend to drown more often in areas that are off‑limits to swimming, said Volodymyr Pashynsky, a spokesman for the Emergency Situations Ministry.
So far this year, 634 people have drowned in Ukraine’s lakes, ponds and rivers. Last year, there were 2,664 drowning deaths, including 342 children, Pashynsky said.
Drownings are often blamed on people swimming while drunk and on parental negligence. The high drowning rate recently might be explained by the long Constitution Day weekend when people hit the beach in droves, Pashynsky said.
Drowning isn’t the only risk of the heat. Driver Yury Vysochin said that during heat waves, the roads become more dangerous. Eyes get tired and drivers become inert and sleepy, he said.
Although it seemed like the days of rain would never stop, Kyiv forecasters said this summer’s weather was nothing out of the ordinary.
“The beginning of July is always the hottest time of the year,” said Roman Murmylo, a forecaster at the Ukrainian meteorology center Ukrhydrometcenter.
“The peak temperature this time of year usually reaches 30 degrees C or more. It’s the same thing we are seeing this year.”
Heavy rains and severe heat are par for the course for Kyiv summers, Murmylo said.
“True, last year we had a cold and rainy spell in July, which was rather unusual, but the peak of heat occurred in August. Nature always gives us compensation,” Murmylo said.
Last week’s heat wave that was hailed by Hydropark regulars left those who work there a bit gloomy.
“It’s exhausting weather and customers are all nervous and absentminded,” said street vendor Maryna Kulinich.
Not all Hydropark regulars are fond of heat. Many go there just to cool down.
“As long as I’m on vacation, I’ll be coming to the beach even though I don’t like the heat so much,” said Vika Yatina, 31. “What else one can do here?”
