Call for better awareness for tourists after three die in Tenerife’s rough seas
The president of the maritime safety association Canarias, 1,500 km de Costa, Sebastián Quintana, has called for greater awareness among tourists and residents about the dangers of the sea after a tragic day in Tenerife that left three people dead and at least fifteen injured during a coastal pre-alert for rough seas.
Quintana described Saturday, 8th November, as “the most tragic day” for aquatic accidents in the Canary Islands since the group began recording data a decade ago. Almost all of the victims were foreign visitors.
Series of deadly incidents across the island
The worst incident occurred at the dock in Puerto de la Cruz, where a huge wave swept ten people into the sea. One woman died despite attempts to revive her, and nine others, all tourists, were injured, three of them seriously.
Earlier that afternoon, a man was found floating in the water off El Cabezo beach in Granadilla de Abona, in the south of the island. Lifeguards and emergency teams tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A third fatality occurred at Charco del Viento in La Guancha, where a man was swept into the ocean and later died from his injuries.
In the morning, six French tourists were injured at Roque de las Bodegas beach in the north of Tenerife when a wave struck them as they walked along the shore, despite safety barriers warning of dangerous conditions. One woman was airlifted to hospital with moderate injuries, while the others were treated for less serious wounds.
‘Reckless behaviour and lack of awareness’
Quintana said all the victims were caught by surprise by waves up to five metres high, many of them while standing on rocky or wave-exposed areas. He described the accidents as preventable, blaming “reckless behaviour” and a “complete lack of understanding of the Atlantic Ocean’s power”, particularly among tourists unfamiliar with local sea conditions.
He recalled a similar tragedy 10 months ago, when a young Polish boy named Arek was swept away by a wave at the same spot in La Guancha while on holiday with his family. “They all survived, except Arek, whose body has never been recovered from the sea,” Quintana said.
He lamented that, even as emergency crews were recovering a victim’s body in Puerto de la Cruz on Saturday, other tourists could be seen standing on the same breakwater taking photos and selfies of the waves. “It shows a complete disregard for danger,” he added.
Urgent call for safety and prevention
Quintana said the day should serve as “a stark reminder” of the importance of prevention, caution, and public education. He urged both residents and visitors to respect warning signs, avoid breakwaters and piers, and follow instructions from lifeguards and police during coastal alerts.
He also called for better safety signage, temporary barriers, and visible lifeguard presence when hazardous sea conditions are forecast. “When the sea is rough, beaches and coastal paths must be properly cordoned off and clearly marked as dangerous,” he said.
Authorities across the Canary Islands have repeated their warnings not to approach exposed shorelines while the pre-alert for coastal phenomena remains in effect, with waves of up to four metres expected on northern and western coasts.
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