Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities plan to recruit about 30 lifeguards to help prevent drownings across the province’s seven beaches.

The move comes in the wake of several tourist drownings; the latest casualties involved a South Korean 40-year-old father, Lee Minseock, and his 4-year-old son, Lee Seungjae, who drowned at Otres Beach on Friday morning, said Brak Visal, Preah Sihanouk provincial administration deputy director.

Ten local and foreign tourists drowned during the first eight months of this year while visiting beaches and islands in the province, Visal said.

“Two years ago, our province had 10 lifeguards, but five left to work for the private sector,” he said.

Currently, only one of the seven beaches, Ochheutal Beach, has lifeguards.