Wave and rip currents are effective in the coastal areas of Karasu, Kocaali and Kaynarca districts of Sakarya, which are on the Black Sea coast.
Due to adverse sea conditions, district governorships of the districts banned swimming in the sea.
Metropolitan Municipality lifeguard teams turn the flags red on the beaches where they work and warn the public not to enter the water.
rip current
The rip current, described as “the twist of the Black Sea” on the warning signs on the beaches, is effective from Binkılıç in the west to Ağva regions in the east, on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul.
It is stated that lifeguards on the beaches of Istanbul saved 3,014 people from drowning between June 1 and August 8 this year, and a significant portion of the drowning cases were caused by rip currents.
Even professional swimmers have difficulty resisting
The rip current, which is seen in areas where the sea bottom structure is in the form of heel-dalyan-heel (sand dune-cleft-dune dune) and moves strongly from shallow water to deep water, is formed as a result of the waves breaking at the toe in windy weather and moving backwards from the diving areas. Thus, it carries those caught in the current away from the shore and towards the open.
Drowning incidents occur as a result of people who realize that they are being pulled out into the open, trying to return to the shore by struggling with fear and panic, and being tired and unable to keep themselves afloat.
While warnings are given to the citizens to be careful against the rip current, which even professional swimmers cannot resist, in case of being caught in the current, it is necessary to swim parallel to the beach, not towards the shore.
The speed of the current is higher in windy weather
Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Naval Architecture and Marine Sciences Lecturer Prof. Dr. Serdar Beji said in a statement to the AA correspondent that windy weather and currents are directly related, and that wave heights are higher in the wind.
Stating that more waves break on the heels in the region close to the shore, Beji said, “These breaking waves cause stronger currents. Therefore, the wind is directly related. Since we are talking about the Black Sea, these are already there. Blowing directly from north to south, from northeast and “We need to be especially careful on days when there is any kind of wind blowing from the northwest. Because the waves will be higher. Therefore, the current speed is higher.” said.
prof. Dr. Beji added that many drowning cases occur at this time because people who are caught in the current are helped by people who cannot swim, and that the drowning person should be intervened by professionals.
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