The on-call fire chief’s car and people at Kalajoki’s Hiekkasärkät on 25 July 2025. Photo: Tuomas Nevalainen / Lehtikuva
- Previous Article Nineteen dead seals found near Porvoo spark investigation
- Next Article Fazer shrinks chocolate bars amid rising cocoa costs
Three teenage boys with Somali backgrounds drowned at Hiekkasärkät beach in Kalajoki on Friday, prompting shock and mourning across Finland’s Islamic community and raising questions about beach safety and supervision.
The teenagers were playing ball in the water about 100 metres from the shoreline when nearby beachgoers began to hear splashing and calls for help. Attempts were made to assist, but witnesses were unable to reach the boys before they disappeared underwater.
Two of the boys were recovered on Friday. The third was located late Saturday with the help of sonar equipment and a volunteer diver from the rescue service.
According to Yle and confirmed by the Northern Finland Islamic Congregation, all three boys were of Somali descent. Abdul Mannan, the congregation’s imam, said he had been informed of the deaths by relatives of the victims and had been acting as a liaison between the families and the police.
Speaking by email, Mannan said the deaths had caused deep sorrow across the Muslim community. “We are trying to carry out the funeral rites as soon as possible,” he said.
Mannan also criticised the lack of supervision at the beach. “Why were these boys allowed to swim at Kalajoki without oversight?” he asked. “This is a serious failure.”
Hiekkasärkät, a popular beach destination in Northern Ostrobothnia, has had no lifeguard presence for over two decades. Mannan said seasonal supervision should be introduced, especially during summer months when visitor numbers increase.
Police have not commented on the boys’ swimming ability. Minna Vuori, the lead investigator from the Oulu police, said no specific information on their skill level was available.
Data from the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation shows that a significant share of near-drowning incidents at beaches and pools in Finland involve individuals from immigrant backgrounds. A similar near-fatal event involving migrant families occurred in Espoo in mid-July.
The boys were reportedly born in 2008 and 2009. Their names have not been released by authorities.
Candle memorials were placed on the beach at the site of the incident over the weekend, as local residents and members of the community gathered to pay their respects.
HT
- Previous Article Nineteen dead seals found near Porvoo spark investigation
- Next Article Fazer shrinks chocolate bars amid rising cocoa costs
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
