This designation comes after three more tourists tragically lost their lives while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
According to local authorities, these "fatal water incidents" occurred on Saturday off the coast of Panama City Beach. However, whether the victims drowned or experienced another medical emergency while in the water remains unclear. The individuals were swimming behind different resorts, as the Panama City News Herald reported.
June 28, 2023
Seven people have died at this beach in the past nine days due to the dangerous swimming conditions caused by rip currents. According to data compiled by the National Weather Service, This death toll surpasses any other beach in the United States for the year 2023. Additionally, another person died on Thursday under similar circumstances at nearby Blue Mountain Beach, and another fatality occurred on Saturday at Miramar Beach, marking the second death on that beach this year.
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Rip currents are swift, channelized currents that flow away from the shore at surf beaches. They typically form at breaks in sandbars and near structures such as jetties and piers. The National Weather Service warns that these currents can be complex, as even the strongest swimmers can be swiftly carried away from the shore by the fast-moving water.
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In recent years, rip current deaths, including those resulting from high surf and sneaker waves, have risen nationwide. In fact, in 2021, there were a record-high 113 rip current-related deaths, according to statistics from the weather service. Last year, 69 deaths were reported, and this year alone, there have already been 60 surf zone fatalities across the United States.
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The three tourists who tragically lost their lives on Saturday in Panama City Beach were caught in rip currents, according to the police. Double red flags were posted at the beach in two instances, indicating that the Gulf was closed to swimmers. Violating this closure could result in a $500 fine. The victims have been identified as Kimberly Moore, 39, from Lithonia, Georgia, Morytt Burden, 63, Lithia Springs, Georgia, and Donald Wixon, 68, from Canton, Michigan.
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"The conditions at the time were severe, with double red flags indicating extreme water hazards," authorities stated. "The Panama City Beach Police Department and Beach Safety implore the public to always heed the double red flag warnings and always be aware of the dangers that can accompany these conditions."
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Over the past ten days, there have been 70 reports of distressed swimmers, with approximately 40 occurring on Saturday alone. Authorities remind tourists that double red-flag conditions have persisted on the beach for the past week, emphasizing that these flags signify that swimming in the Gulf is strictly prohibited.
