An impressive surge poured into a natural saltwater pool along the rugged, chiseled, western coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Tragically, it has already taken four lives with one person still missing. The attack took place at Isla Cangrejo, a major tourist spot known to foreign visitors. These swimmers were left humbled by the ocean’s overwhelming might.
The deadly incident happened after a flash wave crashed down the public swimming area, pulling many bathers into the ocean. Rescue crews sprang into action within hours, searching in an expansive area with dozens of crews throughout the weekend. On Sunday, responders recovered three bodies: a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman, and another man. On Monday, the fourth victim, a woman, sadly died from her injuries. She was resuscitated at the scene and subsequently airlifted to University of Maryland Shock Trauma where she underwent extensive treatment.
Initially, authorities confirmed the nationality of only four victims, saying two were Romanians and two Slovaks. The mayor of Santiago del Tiede, Emilio Navarro, offered his condolences on behalf of the local government to the families of victims, victims of this tragic act.
“We … ask people to pay attention to the signage put up by the authorities,” – Emilio Navarro
Rescue operations stretched into Monday as crews looked for the lost swimmer. The public seawater pool dazzles with its beauty, flanked by white sand and natural volcanic rock on one side and guarded from the raging ocean on the other. It can be hugely dangerous when the sea is choppy. According to reports, it had been closed to swimmers since December 3 because dangerous currents made the water unsafe.
According to local residents, they’ve raised warnings about the facility’s hazards and risks posed by the pool. One anonymous resident noted, “People … don’t know how the sea is here, and the danger of the pool, because there are rocks below on which people fall and can’t get back up. It’s very dangerous.”
Because the pool is located almost at sea level, it’s especially susceptible to severe storms. Enormous waves that dwarf the ship can easily crash over its cement barriers and seriously injure someone. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of paying attention to and following safety signage erected by local jurisdictions.