Safety on Durrës beaches in doubt due to lack of lifeguards

Although the 2026 summer season has just begun and has not yet reached its busiest point, three minor children have lost their lives to drowning in the Adriatic Sea in the past week alone. The latest case was that of an 11-year-old boy, who died yesterday at the beach behind the Mi Krahët area. This situation has raised questions over whether the main concern is the absence of guards in the watchtowers or parents’ lack of care toward their children on the coast. These are the reactions of holidaymakers in Durrës.

“If the children drowned, then people were not being responsible. A guard may stand there, but yesterday the sun loungers were full. Parents must keep an eye on their children. That is how we looked after ours when we were young. A child goes in for two waves, but the third one drowns them. They are irresponsible,” one holidaymaker said.

Another holidaymaker says lifeguards are almost entirely absent along the coastline. “There are practically no guards here at all. Only God saves people, because otherwise nothing has been done. There should be order, with control points every 200 meters and binoculars, as happens abroad. Here you can drown. Part of the blame also lies with the parents. I used to accompany my children and hold them by the hand, because their wishes are great, but that does not mean all of them should be fulfilled,” she said.

According to tourism operators, beach safety should be a priority for every entity operating along the coastline, while more oversight and awareness are being called for.

Tourism operator Blerim Norja stresses that safety on beaches is a legal obligation for many entities, but not all of them comply, leading to tragic consequences such as those that have occurred. “Besides being a legal obligation, entities must also become more aware. Beach safety is the foundation of healthy tourism. At the same time, there must also be parental responsibility. Care for minor children must be shared. On public beaches there are many tourists, including people who cannot swim. There should be one lifeguard every 80 meters to monitor the beach, so that loss of life and incidents are reduced as much as possible,” he said.

On Sunday, at Durrës beach, an 11-year-old boy lost his life after entering the sea alone. The incident has once again brought attention to the need for more safety measures, more lifeguards and greater awareness among parents, with the aim of avoiding similar tragedies during the summer season.