Social media users pointed out the unresolved issue of tourist safety in Dagestan.

The dangerous manner of operating boats and the lack of life jackets pose a threat to tourists in the Sulak Canyon, social media users pointed out. Commentators shared their own negative experiences of such trips and demanded increased safety control for tourists.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on August 12, a boat with tourists in the Sulak Canyon crashed into a rock and sank. One passenger died, and eight others required medical assistance.

A video showing tourists on board a boat during a trip in the Sulak Canyon on August 11 was published by the Instagram*-public dagestan_inform. The footage shows how the boat with passengers submerged in one of the sections.

As of 10:56 AM MSK on August 16, this video on the Instagram*-public dagestan_inform, which has about 565 thousand followers, received 17.1 thousand likes and 1118 comments.

Users pointed out the lack of life jackets and the dangerous manner of operating boats. "Where are the life jackets? It's very dangerous to ride without them," wrote vitamini_premium. "It's okay that this is extreme riding, but without jackets, it's very dangerous," noted dolovm. "Two people in front are sitting without jackets," pointed out zixx_sugar.

Commentators also shared their own negative experiences of boat trips. "In the fourth month of pregnancy, we decided to take a ride. We specifically rented a boat just for ourselves <...> the driver was warned several times that I was pregnant. <...> I got out wet from head to toe. I was very worried because my lower abdomen hardened and started to hurt," shared izabella_shestopalova.

"That's how I got my head cracked in Sulak <...> I won't set foot in Dagestan again," reported fatkhinurova_des. "There were eight of us. We went on a boat through the Sulak Canyon. Ages ranged from 45 to 65. We wanted to admire the beauty, to relax. <...> We just huddled against the sides, our fingers turned white," shared anlsweta.

Some users stated that the issue of tourist safety is systemic and called on the authorities to pay attention to it. "That's why there's no desire to go to Dagestan. No one is responsible for the life of a tourist," wrote kurortny_prospect.

"When will the authorities pay attention to this disorder?" asked gimbatovas. "Someday, attractions and tourist entertainment in our country will be proud of safety for people, not danger," noted oleg_kozyrev.

As of 10:56 AM MSK on August 16, there are no comments on the Ministry of Tourism of Dagestan's website regarding social media users' complaints about the safety of tourist boat trips.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the issue of safety in tourist entertainment has been raised by residents and guests of Dagestan for several years. Thus, on August 22, 2021, social media users demanded increased control over compliance with safety requirements after the death of an instructor on an extreme attraction. Commentators at that time also pointed out the dangerous boat trips without life jackets.