India, July 21 -- A massive recall has been issued for over 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools across the US and Canada after nine tragic child drownings, reports the Boston Herald. The affected models, sold since 2002 by major retailers, include products from Bestway, Intex Recreation, and Polygroup. At the center of the concern are the pools' external compression straps.

In notices released on Monday (July 21) by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, officials warned that the pools feature external compression straps that could serve as "footholds," potentially allowing young children to climb in and access the water without supervision.

Further, regulators have urged immediate caution after identifying a se...