BORACAY Island, Malay Aklan—The local government of Malay, Aklan, is enforcing the ban on swimming at the beach during extreme weather conditions.
Typhoon Leon is reportedly approaching the country, which may affect the nearby province of Antique and the province of Aklan as well.
Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista confirmed in a telephone interview that the Malay Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) released a statement Monday about the recent drowning incident at the beach.
The Malay MDRRMO said the incident happened last October 25 while Boracay was at typhoon signal number 1 of typhoon Kristine where two tourists from Laguna drowned. One of them died and another was injured. It was gathered that the two male tourists were in Boracay for a company outing when the incident occurred.
“Consequently, the MDRRMO had raised a red flag on the beach, clearly indicating a ban on swimming due to hazardous swimming conditions. Lifeguards near the area swiftly responded after receiving calls for help. This tragic accident underscores the critical importance of adhering to beach safety protocols, particularly during adverse weather. While a lifeguard was present, resources were limited, making complete shoreline oversight challenging. We strongly urged all beachgoers to exercise caution, act responsibly, and respect all safety flags and advisories,” the MDRRMO statement said.