Emergency UAVs fitted with loudspeakers have been deployed to warn swimmers of threats and spot hazards at beaches
Beachgoers in Belarus could receive safety instructions from drones hovering overhead. Emergency workers have begun using unmanned aircraft equipped with loudspeakers to patrol the beaches and riverbanks, broadcast safety messages, and keep watch over swimmers.
The Belarusian Emergency Situations Ministry reported last week that the drones are being deployed over beaches to spot dangerous situations and address people directly through loudspeakers. If someone enters a prohibited swimming area, the drone announces: “Attention, swimming is prohibited. This place is unsafe.”
A video of the drones in action has been circulating on social media, where users have joked about receiving safety instructions from a “flying loudspeaker.”
The drones also warn people not to enter the water while intoxicated and advise children who are near the shoreline without adult supervision. Officials say the aerial patrols allow rescuers to identify potentially dangerous situations before they require an emergency response.
Information gathered during drone flights is relayed to the local emergency services and the Belarusian Water Rescue Society (OSVOD), allowing crews on the ground to respond more quickly when needed, the ministry said.
Officials say drones will patrol both designated and unofficial bathing areas throughout the summer. The drones, which are normally used to monitor wildfire risks, have had their routes adjusted during the summer to cover popular but unauthorized swimming spots where officials say accidents are more likely to occur.
