Seven people drowned in Finland in September

Seven people drowned in Finland in September, according to preliminary figures from the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation, reported by Yle. Four people drowned in September last year.

The federation urged people to prepare carefully for colder water and changeable autumn weather. “Familiar waters and good swimming skills do not remove the dangers of cold water,” said training planner Aleksandr Efimov in a statement.

By the end of September, 76 people had drowned in Finland this year, five fewer than during the same period last year, according to the preliminary figures.

The federation’s preliminary statistics are based on media reports and publicly available information from authorities. Statistics Finland publishes official drowning figures nearly a year later.