Deadly Rogue Wave Strikes Tenerife Tourist Pool

On Sunday afternoon, December 7, 2025, the normally tranquil coastline of Los Gigantes in Tenerife, Spain, became the site of a harrowing tragedy. A powerful rogue wave crashed into the popular natural pool known as Isla Cangrejo, sweeping a group of unsuspecting tourists into the churning Atlantic. By the time rescue operations concluded, four people had lost their lives and several more were left injured, shaking the local community and raising urgent questions about coastal safety in one of Europe’s most beloved holiday destinations.

According to emergency services and multiple local news outlets, the incident unfolded at around 4:00pm local time. The victims—a 55-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man, and another man whose age was not immediately disclosed—were dragged out to sea by the force of the wave. Several others were injured in the chaos, including a woman who went into cardiac arrest. She was revived by paramedics and airlifted to Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but tragically died the following day, raising the death toll to four. Another woman, aged 39, was hospitalized with moderate injuries, while a third woman received on-site medical attention for her wounds, including a bloodied and bruised back.

Rescue efforts were rapid and extensive. The Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES) dispatched a major operation involving maritime rescue helicopters, medical helicopters, ambulances, the Guardia Civil, and local police. Coastguards and firefighters joined in, and rescue footage showed responders winching casualties away from the treacherous scene. Jet skis were used to reach those struggling in the water, and paramedics performed resuscitation maneuvers on the beach. Despite these efforts, three victims were confirmed dead at the scene, and the search for further missing persons continued into Monday, although no additional disappearances were reported.

The natural pool at Isla Cangrejo, also known as the Crab Island Pool, is a magnet for tourists. Nestled against volcanic rock and separated from the open sea by a concrete wall, it offers a picturesque spot for swimming—at least when the weather cooperates. But as local residents and officials have repeatedly warned, the pool can become extremely dangerous during rough seas. Large waves can easily overcome the cement barrier, and the rocks below are slippery, making it nearly impossible for anyone dragged out by the tide to regain a foothold. “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,” a local resident told Euronews.

Weather advisories had been in effect for days prior to the incident. The Canary Islands government issued a high wave warning on December 3, forecasting swells of between two and five meters in northern areas. Emilio Navarro, mayor of Santiago del Teide, confirmed that a pre-alert warning was in place to inform both locals and visitors about dangerous tidal surges in Tenerife’s most at-risk areas. “We...ask people to pay attention to the signage put up by the authorities,” Navarro told La Radio Canaria. “It's to take care of and protect everyone.”

Despite these warnings, many tourists ventured into restricted areas. According to Navarro, the victims had crossed police tape and fencing that had been set up to cordon off the pool due to the hazardous conditions. “All those hurt or killed were tourists. There’s a group that was younger, Slovakians and Italians, and there was another group—all tourists—who had crossed the tape that had been put by local police or Civil Guard who have been working all week in this area and at other points along the coast,” he said on local television. “It’s impossible at times to make people understand the dangers of the ocean. The tape has to be replaced several times a day in some cases because it gets broken and people even insult police because they don’t want to leave.”

Regional government officials echoed these concerns, urging visitors to exercise “extreme caution” in coastal locations and to avoid rocky shorelines or natural pools during adverse weather. They specifically warned against risking photographs or videos where the waves break, as these moments can turn deadly in an instant. The National Oceanography Centre notes that tidal surges in the region can last from a few hours to several days, adding to the unpredictability of the situation.

This tragedy is not an isolated event. Just a month earlier, three people died and 15 were injured in four separate incidents along Tenerife’s coast, most notably in the northern port city of Puerto de la Cruz, where a 79-year-old Dutch holidaymaker was among the victims. In January, a British tourist drowned at the same natural pool after being swept into the sea. These repeated incidents highlight both the allure and the peril of Tenerife’s dramatic coastline.

The UK Foreign Office has not issued travel warnings for Tenerife in the wake of the recent surge, but their website advises British tourists to exercise caution: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents… If you are walking along unmonitored beaches, be aware that waves can come in further than expected and have strong undertows.” Travelers are also advised to monitor updates from the Spanish Meteorological Office (AEMET) and European Meteorological Services for severe weather warnings.

For those already in Tenerife or planning to visit, the emergency number to call is 112. In the event of a crisis, the Foreign Office can provide additional support. However, tourists should be aware that travel insurance is unlikely to cover cancellations unless the Foreign Office formally advises against all but essential travel—a step that has not been taken. Most insurers will only pay out for cancellations if such advisories are in place, or if local or national authorities declare the area unsafe, which is not currently the case. Policies may also exclude coverage for “anticipated” events if the extreme weather was forecast before the trip was booked.

Survivors of Sunday’s ordeal described the terrifying speed with which the situation deteriorated. “We began to see bigger and bigger waves and didn’t have time to see more because we realized we had to get out of there very quickly to survive,” one Spanish woman told a Canary Islands TV broadcaster. Another recounted, “We were at the edge of the pool and leaning against it when a huge wave came in. There was a couple, a blonde woman and an older man, who we saw were going to be swept out of the pool. Another huge wave came crashing in and everyone just ran as fast as they could to get away.”

The Civil Guard is conducting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, as officials and residents alike grapple with the aftermath. The hope is that heightened awareness and stricter adherence to safety warnings will prevent future loss of life along these beautiful, but sometimes deadly, shores.