8 people have died from drowning in the Canary Islands so far in 2024

The Canary Islands have experienced a surge in drowning incidents recently due to adverse sea conditions, with a total of eight recorded deaths during the first two months of 2024. According to data compiled by the Association for the Prevention of Accidents in the Aquatic Environment Canary Islands, this figure represents a marginal decrease compared to the same period in 2023.

The association emphasises a concerning trend, attributing the majority of these fatalities to "recklessness and negligence." Many victims, it is reported, entered the water against advisories, either in the presence of a red flag or during unfavourable sea conditions.

This data, derived from official sources related to emergencies, forms the basis of a comprehensive statistical study conducted by the association, a pioneering public interest initiative in the EU, sponsored by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, and collaboratively supported by various regional entities, including the government, tourism departments, the Elder Museum, and ADEAC- Blue Flag Spain.

In addition to the tragic drownings, the report outlines further casualties and incidents. One individual is reported to be in critical condition, four sustained serious injuries, nine had moderate injuries, three suffered minor injuries, and five people were successfully rescued unharmed.

The demographic breakdown of the victims reveals that they are all males, with one victim of Chinese origin and the nationalities of the remaining seven undisclosed. Age-wise, one victim was over 60 years old, three were adults aged between 18 and 59, whilst the ages of the other four remain unknown.

Analysing the incidents leading to their death, 75% occurred among bathers, while the remaining 25% were classified under the 'other' category. Tenerife leads the death toll with three fatalities, followed by Lanzarote and Fuerteventura with two each. La Palma recorded one death, while Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa reported no casualties.

The report highlights specific risk factors, with beaches identified as the environment in which 67% of the drownings occurred, followed by ports and coastal areas at 20%, and natural pools at 13%. Equally notable is the time of day they happened, with 88% of tragic accidents happening in the afternoon and the remaining 12% in the morning.

The local authorities and organisations are intensifying efforts to spread information on water safety and the critical importance of adhering to warnings.