According to a water safety expert, typical factors were involved in Saturday’s fatal boating accident in Nurmes.
In Lappeenranta, eastern Finland, at least three people died in traffic accidents on Saturday.
Two were killed shortly before 1pm when their car flipped over on the Vaalimaa road, near the eastern border. Around 2am, a 17-year-old boy died when his light motorcycle swerved off Lentokentäntie and struck a light pole.
Further north in Nurmes, two middle-aged men are believed to have drowned after a boating accident early Saturday on Lake Haapajärvi.
Five adults were in a small aluminium rowboat designed for four, venturing out in very windy conditions late at night. All were under the influence of alcohol and none were wearing life vests. The first emergency call came around 5.30am.
Fewer drownings than usual in June
Three people managed to reach the lake shore, while one drowned. Another is missing and presumed dead. The search was called off on Saturday afternoon, as authorities said that the underwater visibility was too murky for divers to work.
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Map showing location of Haapajärvi and Nurmes in eastern Finland. Image: Kuva: Tiina Jutila / Yle, lähde: Open Street Map, Mapcreator
“This is a truly typical case,” says water safety expert Anne Hiltunen from the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (FSL).
She points to a study on accidental drownings published by the Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) in 2022.
“It showed clearly that unsteady vessels cause dangerous situations. The typical combination is an unsteady boat, an elderly man, no life jacket and if there is also alcohol involved, then these accidents happen,” she told Yle on Saturday.
At least 40 people have drowned in Finland this year.
According to preliminary statistics from the FSL, eight people drowned in Finland in June. This is the lowest number in over 20 years.
Hiltunen suspects that the rainier-than-usual weather and cooler waters have reduced activity on and near the water.
In contrast, drownings more than doubled in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2024.