EPFD warns migrants: ‘The water is dangerous and the canal system can kill you’

Authorities in El Paso have recovered seven bodies in waterways during the past four days, all apparent drownings.

Firefighters expect the figure to rise over the summer months as more migrants attempt to enter the U.S. to seek asylum.

The El Paso Fire Department’s water rescue team has responded to calls from the Lower Valley to the Upper Valley. Officials said the bodies of five men, a woman and a pre-school aged girl were recovered in between Saturday, June 8, 2019 and Tuesday, June 11th.

EPFD Captain Kris Menendez, who oversees the water rescue team, told ABC-7 they recover and rescue seven to nine people on average per year. They tied that number in four days this month.

“We’re on a record pace this year to see numbers in the high teens if this continues,” Menendez said.

He thinks part of the reason for the increase of recoveries is the time the incidents are happening.

“The problem we’re having now is these events are happening late at night, when they (migrants) don’t want anyone to know they’re crossing the border or crossing the canal system and that’s what’s causing this situation,” Menendez said.

Not all the bodies recovered are believed to be non-citizens or migrants. Police are still investigating.

Menendez is reminding all El Pasoans the water in the canals can be deceiving

“The water is at its peak right now,” he said. “Water on the top looks like it’s moving very slowly. What they don’t understand is down the middle, down at the bottom, it is very quick. It will sweep you off your feet.”

Menendez said the water “is dangerous and the canal system can kill you.”