A training trip for students of an Egyptian academy on the beach of Abu Talat in Alexandria province turned into a tragedy, where a mass drowning led to the death of seven students and the injury of twenty-eight others.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 23, 2025, during a training trip in the Ajami area, where students drowned while doing activities on the beach. Al-Shorouk newspaper reported that the academy in question organized a mandatory training camp to teach first aid, although one mother reported that her daughter attended the academy only a month ago.
Reports that the camp of 146 students and supervisors did not provide adequate equipment or clothing raised questions about the academy’s formal accreditation.
Governor Ahmed Khaled explained that the incident began while the students were running on the beach, and when two of them headed towards the sea, they were swept away by the waves, which necessitated the intervention of rescue teams. Unfortunately, several students tried to save their classmates, but they also drowned, leading to this tragedy.
Images of the incident have drawn strong reactions in Egypt, with criticism of efforts to secure beaches especially at this time of year. Immediately after the incident, the authorities proceeded to hand over the bodies of the students to their families after obtaining burial permits from the prosecution.
For those injured, 11 recovered and left hospital, while 14 girls remain under medical observation, four of them in intensive care.
The beaches of Ajami, including Abu Talat, are among the most dangerous areas to swim because of the geographical nature that makes the water here suitable for forming strong currents known as "swirls". Although red flags were raised to prevent swimming, the incident raised growing concerns about safety measures.
While authorities have announced the closure of Ajami Beach, some believe the measure could be temporary without radical solutions. Meanwhile, the governor pointed to a 70 percent drop in drownings this year, stressing the continuation of training programs for rescuers to keep citizens safe.
