Rip current fatalities on the black sea beaches of istanbul and effects of winds

Abstract

This study investigates fatalities due to rip currents on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. Results include the incidence rate of fatalities from rip currents, their causes, temporal and spatial distributions. The data shows that, nearly 70% of all drowning fatalities are associated with rip currents, and that on the average 33 people reportedly die from rip currents each year in Istanbul Black Sea coast. Thus, considering the wind speeds versus rip current fatalities, about one third of the fatalities occur when the wind speed is between 1.5-2.0 m/s. For the wind speeds 1.0-1.5 m/s the rip current magnitude is not too intense so people consider themselves capable enough to swim but for poor swimmers this is the most dangerous case. Nearly 60% of the fatalities in this wind speed interval is found to be children.