(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Lee Jeong-hwan = On the 7th (local time), four tourists were swept away by a tsunami in a natural swimming pool in the Canary Islands, a famous tourist destination in Spain, and four people died and one person went missing.
According to AFP and CBS, at least seven tourists who were swimming in a natural pool off the coast of Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands were swept away by a tsunami that crossed over the pool.
Spanish authorities conducted a rescue operation to rescue survivors, but the bodies of two men and one woman were recovered. Rescuers succeeded in resuscitating another woman who had suffered a heart attack, but she eventually died at the hospital a day later on the 8th.
Authorities said one other person is currently hospitalized and a search is underway for one missing person.
Citing eyewitness testimony, Spain’s El Pais reported that two high waves hit the swimming pool in just a few seconds and swept away tourists.
At the time of the accident, the local government of the Canary Islands had issued a warning, predicting that waves in the nearby sea would reach 2 to 3.5 meters.
Local residents said signs and fences had been installed to prevent people from entering the swimming pool due to bad weather, but swimmers ignored them.
CBS reported that the swimming pool borders the coastline and is almost at sea level, so large waves could easily overcome the cement barrier.
Santiago del Teide Mayor Emilio Navarro expressed condolences to the victims and said authorities were searching for the missing. He then emphasized, “Please pay attention to the signs installed by the authorities,” and “This is to protect everyone.”
Tenerife Island is the largest island in the Canary Islands and is a popular vacation spot, so much so that it is called the ‘Hawaii of Europe.’
Last month, three people died and at least 15 were injured on the island of Tenerife when tourists were swept away by waves while on the beach, CBS reported.
jwlee@news1.kr
