The sea has left its mark on the Canary Islands as nearly all areas of the archipelago are on pre-alert for dangerous conditions, many beaches are under red flags and some are even closed to the public altogether.
Several incidents in the last 24 hours are a stark reminder of its power that you cannot ignore, although it seems that some people think they can and are risking their lives, and those of others, in doing so. Here a just three of them.
Maritime Rescue had to intervene in Tenerife yesterday (Saturday) after receiving an alert to rescue someone from the sea in El Sauzal who was in trouble off Playa Rojas beach. As can be seen in the video, the crew located the affected person, carried out the rescue and took him to the shore so that he could be tended to by SUC medical personnel.
GES rescuers reported that a second person, who was also in trouble at the same location, managed to get out of the sea on his own and did not need medical assistance.
In Gran Canaria, images and videos show the strength of the tide on Playa Las Cantera beach which, while under a red flag, surged up the sand and down the steps of a commercial centre, flooding it underground and leading to the temporary closure of several shops and restaurants that had to resort to extreme measures to clear it.
Back in Tenerife, two beaches were closed in Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo (main image) after strong waves battered the coast of La Laguna yesterday leaving a sinkhole on the access to one of them and conditions just too dangerous for entering the water on the other.
The Local Police were called in to seal both of them for the safety of the public.
The pre-alert is still active and affects the northern and western coasts of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma and Lanzarote; the north coast of La Gomera, and Gran Canaria; and the west coast of Fuerteventura until further notice.
