Death toll rises in Tenerife after beach tragedy | World | News
The death toll rose to three after a weather warning regarding rough seas was issued in Tenerife on Saturday, November 8. A Dutch tourist died and nine people were hospitalized after being swept out to sea in the popular northern resort of Puerto de la Cruz.
In a separate incident, six French holidaymakers were injured in Roque de las Bodegas on the north-eastern tip of Tenerife, suffering the same fate. The second person killed was a 43-year-old resident of the natural pool complex called Charco del Viento, a short drive west of Puerto de la Cruz. It was revealed that the body of an unidentified man was found in the sea at night off the beach called El Cabezo in Granadilla, in the southwest of the island.
The incident that caused the highest loss of life, in which a 79-year-old Dutch woman lost her life, occurred around 15:00 yesterday. A regional government-run emergency response coordination center gave a full update on what was happening, saying: “One woman died and nine others were injured after being swept out to sea by the wave.”
The incident in Charco del Viento, in which a 43-year-old man lost his life, occurred just before 16.45. Local reports indicate he was a local living in nearby La Orotava who was swept out to sea while fishing.
Emergency response teams said: “In the alarm received, it was said that the man had fallen into the sea and needed help.
“A helicopter rescued him and took him to the helicopter landing site at the docks in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
“Due to the severity of his injuries he was confirmed dead on arrival.
“The investigation by the Turkish National Security Command is ongoing.”
It was stated that the incident in which French tourists were injured, which was the first of the dramas that took place around 11.30 yesterday, occurred as a result of ignoring the warning signs and getting too close to the sea. Emergency responders confirmed that none suffered life-threatening injuries. There are 3 men and 3 women among the injured. They were caught by the wave and managed to get out of the sea with the help of others. Five were taken to hospital, one by air ambulance.
The nationality of the man who is said to have suffered a heart attack when he was pulled from the sea at El Cabezo beach in Granadilla at around 14:00 yesterday afternoon was not disclosed. Local authorities said he was pulled from the sea “after being found floating in the water” and had not yet said whether he fell into the ocean in the same conditions as people swept off their feet by large waves.
On the day of the three deaths, Canary Islands authorities reminded locals and holidaymakers to exercise “maximum caution” on the coast. “Do not stand at the ends of piers or breakwaters, and do not risk taking photos or videos near where the waves are breaking,” they said.
The warning about sea conditions was first issued on Friday.
Between January and October, 54 people drowned in the Canary Islands.
