January 9, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. Two people fell through thin ice and drowned in the Vitebsk region, the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations informed a BELTA correspondent. They died on Lake Zabornoye, near the village of Boruny, Braslav district. Three people were on the body of water. One person was rescued by eyewitnesses. He was taken to the hospital by an ambulance team with a diagnosis of general hypothermia. Employees of the Braslav Water Rescue Society recovered the deceased from the water. The circumstances of the incident are being established. The Ministry of Emergency Situations warns that the first ice is particularly dangerous. Despite the frosts, the ice on rivers and lakes has not yet strengthened. It is possible for one person to go on the ice when the thickness of the ice cover is 5-7 cm; a group of people can safely go on the ice if the ice thickness is 10-12 cm. If a person falls through the ice, they should call for help and, trying not to break the edge, attempt to get out onto the ice. You should get out by crawling onto the ice with your chest and alternately pulling your legs to the surface, spreading them wide apart. After getting out, you should carefully crawl (roll) away from the dangerous area. Fishermen are advised to go on the ice wearing life jackets. For safety purposes, it is necessary to have a rope with you, to one end of which a load is attached, and the other end with a loop is on your belt. In case of falling through the ice, such a device will help the fisherman stay on the water longer and rescuers will be able to pull him out of the ice hole faster. -0-

BELTA