Tragedy struck in the wilayat of Khabourah on Thursday evening as two young brothers, aged 10 and 7, drowned while swimming at a local beach, according to a statement from the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
The victims, identified as Waqas and Faris Al Farsi, were pulled from the water by the Coast Guard Police with the help of concerned citizens. Despite rescue efforts, both children were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities in Oman have repeatedly urged parents to closely supervise their children around bodies of water. Drowning remains a serious public safety issue, especially among children. In 2023 alone, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) recorded 166 drowning cases—most of them involving minors—though that marked a decrease from 324 cases in 2022.
CDAA officials noted that many such incidents occur during the summer, when families flock to beaches and wadis for leisure. The risks are compounded when people enter the water during high tides or in areas deemed unsafe.
“Many of them go swimming despite not knowing how to swim,” a CDAA official told Gulf News, emphasizing that proper precautions and heeding weather alerts could save lives.
Authorities continue to remind the public to avoid risky waters and never leave children unattended while swimming.
