A deadly wave surge at a popular natural bathing spot in Tenerife has claimed the lives of three people, with a fourth still missing, in a tragic incident that underscores the dangers of coastal weather.
Deadly Wave Strikes at Crab Island Pools
The incident occurred at approximately 4pm on Sunday, December 7th, 2025, at the Crab Island natural pools, situated beneath the imposing volcanic cliffs of Los Gigantes. A large swell, part of an ongoing weather warning for the Canary Islands, crashed over the concrete wall built to protect the pool, sweeping a group of middle-aged bathers out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Among those caught in the surge were foreign tourists. The victims have been identified as a 55-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man, and another man, all of whom were declared dead at the scene. Emergency services, including air ambulances, were scrambled to the area, performing dramatic rescues from the water.
Rescue Efforts and Ongoing Search
One woman was revived from cardiac arrest by paramedics at the scene and was subsequently airlifted by helicopter to the Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria Hospital for urgent treatment. Another woman, aged 39, suffered moderate trauma and was also transported to hospital, where she remains.
As of the latest updates, one person is still missing. Emergency teams remain deployed in the area, conducting searches in case there are further victims, although no additional disappearances have been reported. The free-to-enter rock pool, a popular spot formed by volcanic activity, has been the site of previous dangerous incidents.
A Pattern of Dangerous Coastal Conditions
The archipelago has been under an official weather warning since the previous Friday, with forecasts predicting waves reaching between two and five metres in height in northern areas. This tragedy follows a similar fatal event just last month, when three people died after powerful waves slammed into a port in Tenerife during a tidal surge, injuring 15 cruise passengers.
Other recent incidents highlight the recurring risk:
- In August, a 44-year-old woman was rescued by helicopter from the same Crab Island Pools showing symptoms of near-drowning.
- A 79-year-old Dutch woman was among ten people dragged into the sea near Puerto de la Cruz by a wave strike; she did not survive.
Tidal surges, also known as storm surges, occur when strong winds and low atmospheric pressure force seawater towards the coast, causing water levels to rise several metres above the normal tide. They present a severe and often sudden hazard to coastal areas.
