Three dead and several injured in Tenerife after powerful wave sweeps swimmers away
A day of rough seas along the coast of Tenerife ended in tragedy on Sunday, after a powerful wave struck the natural pool area of Isla Cangrejo, in Los Gigantes (Santiago del Teide), sweeping a group of people from the rocks and into the water. Three people were confirmed dead, and several others were injured.
Emergency services later reported that a fifth victim was recovered in cardiac arrest, while at least three other people suffered minor injuries.
Wave struck shortly after 4 p.m.
The incident occurred shortly after 16:00, when a sudden large wave surged over the popular natural swimming spot. Among the victims were middle-aged swimmers, including several foreign tourists who had been near the rocky shoreline when the wave hit.
Major rescue operation deployed
Due to the scale of the emergency, the Canary Islands Coordination Centre activated a large rescue operation. The response involved:
- Salvamento Marítimo’s Helimer helicopter
- The GES rescue helicopter
- A medicalized SUC helicopter
- Multiple ambulances from the Canary Emergency Service
- Guardia Civil and local police units
- Healthcare personnel from the surrounding area
Emergency teams confirmed the deaths of four people at the scene. The fifth victim, recovered in cardiac arrest, remained under advanced resuscitation efforts.
Rough-sea warnings in effect
The tragedy unfolded amid an official coastal phenomena pre-alert in the Canary Islands. Authorities had repeatedly warned residents and visitors to stay away from exposed coastal areas due to dangerous sea conditions.
Local officials reiterated those warnings following the incident, stressing the unpredictable nature of the ocean and urging extreme caution near rocky shorelines and natural pools during adverse weather.
