A powerful wave swept four swimmers out to sea on Sunday while they were enjoying the popular seawater pool at Isla Cangrejo on Tenerife's Los Gigantes coast, claiming the lives of three people. The victims, identified as two Romanians and two Slovaks, were revived at the scene but sadly succumbed to their injuries later.
The tragedy occurred during a period of severe weather warnings for rough seas, with locals stating that swimmers had ignored signs and fencing warning against entering the pool due to the hazardous conditions. The pool, which is surrounded by volcanic rock on one side and walled off from the sea on the other, sits at nearly sea level and can be treacherous when large waves overwhelm its cement barrier.
Eyewitnesses described how swimmers who had fallen into the water were unable to gain a foothold on the slippery rocks just below the pool, making it extremely difficult for them to escape. "People... don't know how the sea is here, and the danger of the pool," said one resident. "It's very dangerous."
Rescue crews used jet skis and helicopters to locate and pick up those swept out to sea, recovering three bodies on Sunday. A fourth victim, a woman, died on Monday after being airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by the Atlantic Ocean's unpredictable tides and waves, particularly for unsuspecting tourists. In November, strong waves had already claimed the lives of three people and injured 15 in Tenerife during a tidal surge.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of this latest tragedy, Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago Del Tiede, has called on residents to take greater care when using public pools during periods of rough seas. "We... ask people to pay attention to the signage put up by the authorities," he said.
The tragedy occurred during a period of severe weather warnings for rough seas, with locals stating that swimmers had ignored signs and fencing warning against entering the pool due to the hazardous conditions. The pool, which is surrounded by volcanic rock on one side and walled off from the sea on the other, sits at nearly sea level and can be treacherous when large waves overwhelm its cement barrier.
Eyewitnesses described how swimmers who had fallen into the water were unable to gain a foothold on the slippery rocks just below the pool, making it extremely difficult for them to escape. "People... don't know how the sea is here, and the danger of the pool," said one resident. "It's very dangerous."
Rescue crews used jet skis and helicopters to locate and pick up those swept out to sea, recovering three bodies on Sunday. A fourth victim, a woman, died on Monday after being airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by the Atlantic Ocean's unpredictable tides and waves, particularly for unsuspecting tourists. In November, strong waves had already claimed the lives of three people and injured 15 in Tenerife during a tidal surge.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of this latest tragedy, Emilio Navarro, the mayor of Santiago Del Tiede, has called on residents to take greater care when using public pools during periods of rough seas. "We... ask people to pay attention to the signage put up by the authorities," he said.