Lorraine Williamson
The Atlantic can look calm, almost inviting, moments before it turns violent. Along Tenerife’s coast this weekend, that contradiction became deadly. Despite a pre-alert issued by authorities warning of strong winds and waves up to four metres, crowds still gathered along breakwaters and promenades.
By nightfall, three people had died and fifteen were injured. The tragedy has reignited calls to take official sea warnings seriously — not as suggestions, but as lifelines.
When a ‘photo moment’ becomes fatal
One of the most common mistakes made by visitors and locals alike is assuming that danger is immediately apparent. It isn’t. At Roque de Las Bodegas, in the rugged Taganana area, six French tourists bypassed a safety barrier to take pictures near the water. A powerful wave surged without warning, dragging them into the sea. Rescue services managed to pull them out, but five were taken to hospital with injuries.
In Puerto de la Cruz, crowds along the sea wall watched the fierce waves. At around 3.00 pm, a wall of water swept across the pier, knocking people off their feet and into the ocean. A woman suffered cardiac arrest and died despite immediate efforts to revive her. Nine others were injured, three seriously.
Rescue efforts pushed to the limit
As emergency teams were still responding in Puerto de la Cruz, a call came from Charco del Viento in La Guancha. Another person had been swept into the sea. A rescue helicopter managed to lift him from the water, but he died shortly after being airlifted ashore. Later, at El Cabezo beach in Granadilla de Abona, a man was found unresponsive after being pulled out by the current. He could not be saved.
Across the island, 112 Canarias, Salvamento Marítimo, local police, and medical teams were deployed. Five ambulances, including those with intensive care units, responded in Puerto de la Cruz alone. For emergency crews, the message was clear: the ocean cannot be negotiated with.
Update from Salvamento Marítimo
Spain’s maritime rescue service later confirmed that the death toll was even higher than first reported. Through an official message on X (formerly Twitter), @salvamentogob stated that four people had died — not only in Tenerife, but also on the coast of A Coruña in mainland Spain. The service warned that many victims underestimate the sea simply because they are standing on solid ground. They urged the public to avoid piers, breakwaters and rocks during rough seas, to always check weather forecasts from @AEMET_Esp before approaching the coastline, and never to fish alone from exposed coastal areas.
A warning issued — but ignored
Coastal authorities had already raised a pre-alert for severe maritime conditions. Residents and tourists were told to stay away from piers, breakwaters, and cliffs. But warnings are only effective if they are heeded. Rescue teams say that too often people underestimate the force of the sea, stepping forward for photos or venturing beyond safety railings to feel the spray of waves.
Officials now stress that these are not isolated misjudgements but a recurring pattern — one that costs lives every year in the Canary Islands. With strong winds, high tides, and Atlantic swells, a single misstep can become fatal in seconds.
Respecting the ocean is not fear — it is survival
Tenerife’s tragic day is a stark reminder: the sea does not give second chances. Even experienced swimmers and hikers are no match for a sudden undertow or a wave breaking over a pier. Authorities are urging the public to view safety barriers not as restrictions, but as protection. No photograph, video, or thrill is worth a life.
Source: El País