Panama City Beach leads the nation in 2023 beach deaths as 3 more tourists die Saturday

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Three more tourists are dead after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico under dangerous surf conditions.

According to a Panama City Beach news release, Beach Police officers responded to "three separate fatal water incidents behind three different resorts" on Saturday. The city lists them as "fatal water incidents" because officials have said it is not known whether the victims drowned or had another medical emergency in the water.

Still, Saturday's deaths make seven along the coast of Bay County within nine days. It's the highest number of beach fatalities for any single locale in the U.S. for 2023, according to a database kept by the National Weather Service. Less than a half hour to the northwest in Walton County, one person died on Thursday in similar conditions at Blue Mountain Beach and another died Saturday at Miramar Beach, the second this year on that beach, according to the NWS.

All of the victims Saturday in Panama City Beach were tourists who died after grappling with rip currents, and in every instance but one, double red flags were posted, meaning the gulf was closed to swimmers under penalty of a $500 fine.

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The first fatal incident on Saturday occurred about noon near Days Inn by Wyndham Panama City Beach at 12818 Front Beach Road. The victim was Kimberly Moore, 39, of Lithonia, Georgia.

The second occurred about an hour later near Boardwalk Beach Resort at 9450 South Thomas Drive. The victim was Morytt Burden, 63, of Lithia Springs, Georgia.

The third happened about 4:20 p.m. near Emerald Isle Beach Resort at 17545 Front Beach Road. The victim was Donald Wixon, 68, of Canton, Michigan.

"The conditions at the time were severe, with double red flags indicating extreme water hazards," the release reads. "The Panama City Beach Police Department and Beach Safety implore the public to always heed the double red flag warnings and always be aware of the dangers that can accompany these conditions.

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The release also states that over the past 10 days, there were reports of 70 distressed swimmers, about 40 of which happened on Saturday.

"Double red flag conditions have existed on the beach for the last week," the release reads. "Double red flags mean you are not allowed in the Gulf."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Three tourists died Saturday while swimming in Panama City Beach surf