Coast Guard seeks clearer warning signs at dangerous Pori beach

The Coast Guard is calling for clearer warnings about dangerous sea currents at Herrainpäivät beach near Yyteri in Pori, Yle reports.

A family swimming at the beach was swept far from the shore by the currents on Sunday. A man from Pori who was at the beach went to help them, putting his own safety at risk. The rescue service eventually brought all four people safely ashore.

Current signs do not stand out

Local residents are familiar with the currents, and the City of Pori installed warning signs in the area several years ago. However, Petri Kippola, head of the Pori Coast Guard station, said the blue and white signs do not clearly communicate the dangers of swimming at Herrainpäivät.

“They look more like direction signs. If they are replaced at some point, it would be worth considering whether the traditional warning colours, red and yellow, would be more suitable,” Kippola said.

Water deepens suddenly

The combination of a hidden sea current and a beach that becomes deep quickly can be dangerous even for a strong swimmer, Kippola said.

Herrainpäivät looks similar to nearby Yyteri, but unlike Finland’s best-known sandy beach, the water at Herrainpäivät deepens abruptly.

“When the waves break towards the shore, it does not seem dangerous. But when the water becomes deep quickly and the current carries a swimmer farther from the shore after every wave, the situation can soon become very serious,” Kippola said.

City to review the signs

Ismo Ahonen, the City of Pori’s city gardener, said the city’s technical department plans to discuss the signs with the communications and marketing departments.

“We will certainly review the signs later in the autumn. There is nothing to prevent us from adding signs if we can do it in a stylish way,” Ahonen said.