A total of 45 people lost their lives drowning in swimming pools and beaches in the Canary Islands from January to August of the current year 2026, 15% more than in the same period of 2025 (39), according to data compiled by the Association for the Prevention of Aquatic Accidents Canary Islands, 1500 Km of Coast.
August concludes with 27 total affected in aquatic accidents registered on the islands: 6 deceased, 1 assisted in critical condition, 9 seriously injured, 3 moderately injured, 4 minor injuries, and 4 unharmed rescues.
In these eight months, a total of 156 people suffered some type of mishap on our coasts and aquatic facilities were recorded: 45 deceased; 13 affected in critical condition; 26 serious; 22 moderate; 23 minor, and 27 rescues.
The monthly average of fatal drownings remains at 6 people.
So far this year, 47% of the people who died by drowning (21) as well as 37% of the total victims (57), were involved in risky situations in coastal areas during pre-alerts and alerts activated by the Government of the Canary Islands due to adverse coastal phenomena.
Six minors died in aquatic spaces on the islands
From January until now, six minors have lost their lives by drowning in the Canary Islands, a record figure, at least, in the last eleven years. The most recent case occurred this August on the coast of Mogán (Gran Canaria), where Jeremías, 14 years old, died. Likewise, the eighth month of the year registered another 7 incidents in aquatic environments of the Archipelago involving minors between 3 and 17 years old: 6 were seriously injured and 1 was rescued unharmed.
In total, 27 minors were affected by accidents in the water. Added to the fatalities: (11) serious; (4) moderate; (2) minor, and (4) unharmed.
Likewise, 16 of the fatalities since the beginning of the current year were adults; 15 of them were counted without information regarding their age; (8) were over 60 years old.
69% of those who died by drowning were males (31); 31% were women (14).
Of those identified by nationality, 18 of the deaths correspond to foreigners from 10 countries: Germans (3); British (2); French (1); American (1); Venezuelan (1); Belgian (1); Norwegian (1); Italian (1); Dutch (1); Equatorial Guinean (2); foreigners without specified nationality (4); Spaniards (3). Twenty-four of the cases were reported without data from their countries of origin.
By activity, 60% of the fatalities correspond to bathers (27); 15% to those classified under the heading 'others' (victims who, after a wave or a slip, fall into the water from a pier, a cliff, a promenade, etc…(7); 9% to fishermen (4) as well as divers (9%-4); victims of unknown activity (7% - 3).
Tenerife continues to lead in the count of drowning deaths (18). Fuerteventura follows with (10); Gran Canaria, (8); El Hierro and Lanzarote (3 each); La Gomera (2); La Palma (1). La Graciosa (0).
More than half of the accidents with fatal outcomes took place in the afternoon (60%); 20% in the morning. 7% at night. The remaining 13% occurred at an unknown time at the moment of reporting.
Once again, beaches were the most common aquatic accident environments in the Canary Islands, concentrating 62% of the cases. 22% of these occurred in ports and coastal areas; 8% in swimming pools, as well as natural pools (8%).
Canary Islands, 1500 Km of Coast, elaborates this statistical study, unique in all of Spain, based on data obtained 90% from official sources related to the field of Emergencies: mainly 112 Canarias, as well as Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional, Salvamento Marítimo, Local Police, Firefighters and Civil Protection.
This initiative is sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Vice-Ministry of Physical Activity and Sports (Ministry of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands), with the collaboration of the departments of Tourism and City and Sea of the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Binter.
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