Powerful wave in Tenerife leaves four swimmers dead after being swept out of ocean pool | Spain
Four people were killed and one person was missing after a powerful wave swept a group of swimmers out to sea at a popular seawater pool on the rocky western coastline of the Spanish island of Tenerife, Spanish authorities said Monday.
During a major rescue operation that used jet skis and helicopters to find and retrieve people adrift at sea, crews found three bodies on Sunday: a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman and another man for whom no information was available. The fourth victim, a woman, died on Monday, a day after being revived at the scene and taken to hospital.
The respective governments said two of the victims were Romanians and two were Slovaks. No further information was given about the identities of the victims.
According to local media reports, the pool at Isla Cangrejo on Tenerife’s Los Gigantes coast is very popular among foreign tourists. Surrounded by volcanic rocks on one side and walls from the sea on the other, the pool is located almost at sea level and can be very dangerous in rough seas, where large waves can easily overcome the cement barrier.
Local media reported that a weather warning for rough seas was in effect when swimmers were swept out to sea. A media outlet reported that the pool has been closed to swimmers since December 3.
Residents said swimmers ignored signs and fences set up to prevent anyone from entering the pool due to weather conditions. They said it was very difficult for someone swept out to sea to hold on to the slippery rocks just below the pool.
A resident who did not give his name said, “People do not know what the sea is like here and the danger of the pool, because there are rocks below that people cannot fall off and get up. This is very dangerous.”
Emilio Navarro, mayor of Santiago Del Tiede, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and said rescuers continued their search for the missing swimmer on Monday.
He said authorities were taking steps to warn swimmers of the dangers and discourage them from using the pool in rough seas. “We… ask people to pay attention to the signs put up by the authorities,” he said. “It is to look after and protect everyone.”
During a tidal surge in Tenerife in November, powerful waves swept into the Atlantic Ocean, killing three people and injuring 15 others.
