As the summer heat intensifies in Adana, children continue to risk their lives by entering irrigation canals to cool down. Concerned by the drowning incidents that occur every year, local residents have formed a volunteer 'Lifeguard' team and are keeping watch to keep children away from the canal.

According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, in Adana, one of Turkey's hottest provinces, the air temperature reached 37 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, while the perceived temperature exceeded 42 degrees Celsius due to humidity reaching up to 90 percent. Children and young people seeking refuge from the oppressive heat are entering irrigation canals to cool down, disregarding the danger to their lives.

Following the drowning deaths of dozens of people in irrigation canals every year, a volunteer team of young people in Ziyapaşa Neighborhood, located in the central Seyhan district, patrols the irrigation canal area in shifts. The team on watch by the canal specifically removes children who cannot swim from the water and directs them to safe areas.

Local residents state that their sole aim is to prevent new tragedies and urge families to keep their children away from irrigation canals.

Yunus Oğuz, one of the local residents, said, "The youth of our neighborhood are saving those who cannot swim. Many people have drowned in the water this year. We are keeping a close watch here. These children saved 10 people here this year. Those who cannot swim should not enter this water."

"We are both doing activities and saving children"

Lifeguard Celal Alpay stated, "We are looking out for our youth. When people drown, we jump in after them. We found such a solution within our own means. Here, we are both doing activities and saving children."

Alperen Yılmaz, one of the young people swimming in the irrigation canal, said, "The weather is very hot, we enter the irrigation canal to cool down. There are no pools nearby. We don't have money, so we cool down here with our own means. We know how to swim, we are not afraid of drowning. Here, those who cannot swim will drown." - ADANA