Search continues for missing holidaymaker at Los Charcones in rough seas
A large rescue operation has been underway this afternoon, Sunday 25th January 2026, in Yaiza, Lanzarote, after a person went missing in the sea near Los Charcones, close to Playa Blanca. The incident happened when four swimmers were suddenly caught by strong waves in an area that was closed to the public because of dangerous conditions.
The emergency services received the alert at 3:05pm. Early information indicates that the four people involved are all foreign holidaymakers who were swept into the water or trapped by the rough sea.
Two of them managed to climb out onto the breakwater and reach the shore on their own. They suffered minor scrapes, cuts, and bruises, but refused medical help from Canarian Emergency Service (SUC) staff at the scene.
A GES helicopter managed to find and rescue a third swimmer, who was brought to safety alive. However, the fourth person is still missing, and emergency teams including the Lanzarote Emergency and Safety Consortium, the Guardia Civil, and several aircraft coordinated by the CECOES, are continuing the search.
The incident took place on a day of extremely bad sea conditions across Lanzarote. The island is under an orange warning for heavy waves, with forecasts of swells up to six metres high. Swimming at Los Charcones had already been prohibited due to the dangerous state of the sea.
Archive image of the Los Charcones natural pools in Lanzarote (Source: DA).
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