The number of drownings in early 2025 is higher than in years. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva
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Finland recorded 29 drowning deaths in the first four months of 2025, marking the highest early-year total in recent memory, according to the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (SUH).
The figure is more than twice the number from the same period in 2024. SUH water safety expert Anne Hiltunen attributed the rise to unstable weather and poor judgement around ice conditions.
“There were significantly more cases involving people falling through ice,” she said. “In many incidents, more than one person was involved, and even minors have been in serious danger.”
Of the 29 deaths, 17 were caused by people falling through ice. One person drowned while swimming, two died after falling into water, and nine cases remain under investigation with circumstances unclear.
Hiltunen said shifting temperatures during the winter months made it harder to assess whether ice surfaces were safe. She noted that many individuals went out on the ice without suitable gear or awareness of their own physical limits.
“People are not taking safety warnings seriously,” she said.
The regional breakdown of drownings shows that 11 occurred in Western and Inland Finland, eight in Southern Finland, four in Eastern Finland, three in Northern Finland, two in Southwest Finland, and one in Lapland.
SUH continues to emphasise the importance of basic precautions, such as wearing ice picks, using flotation devices, and avoiding travel on ice alone. The organisation has also warned of a persistent false sense of security as winters become more unpredictable.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
