Drownings at iconic beach raise red flags over spike in ocean deaths

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A string of drownings at an iconic Florida beach community has sparked alarm as officials warn that powerful storms, a shortage of lifeguards and stubborn tourists are fueling another surge in ocean deaths. Since the start of the year, the National Weather Service has recorded 60 drownings at beaches across the United States, a spate of tragedies on pace to potentially challenge a modern-day record.