A total of 320 lifeguards and 50 patrol vessels equipped “in accordance with European standards” will patrol the Black Sea coast and the shores of rivers and lakes throughout Georgia this summer, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Photo: The Emergency Management Service of Georgia

The announcement was made to coincide with the formal launch of the summer season in the country’s Black Sea city of Batumi on Thursday, attended by officials.

Water rescue simulations involving lifeguards were held as part of the event, with the Ministry also revealing it would increase their salaries by 25 percent starting next month.

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