Only half as many vacationers as last year drowned playing in the water this summer, and their number was the lowest since statistics started in 2006.

The National Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday said 24 people died this summer from accidents in the water, a mere 16 percent of the annual average between 2006 and 2008, and 46 percent of last year's 52.

The agency explained that increased funding for safety facilities and rescue personnel contributed to reduction of casualties. The government allocated a budget of W2.09 billion (US$1=W1,134) to local governments so they could improve safety facilities at water parks, lakes and rivers, and increased the number of lifeguards from 118,713 last year to 266,109 this year.