Anger and sorrow have followed the deaths of 2 women on the beach at Los Gigantes this afternoon, up to 6 other people are feared trapped under the rocks. Early reports say the victims are a 57-year-old British woman and a 34-year-old from Arona.
Owners of business’s near the beach are angry after a series of smaller rockfalls over the past few years, and in particular one incident a month ago when swimmers had their towels buried under rubble. At the time the area was merely taped off despite protests from locals.
John Beckley of Tenerife Magazine was one of the first on the scene after the 3pm tragedy, and helped the rescue efforts before police and fire service teams arrived. The pictures on here were taken by John and are also on our Flickr account.
Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured.
We will bring you updates as we get them.
UPDATE – It looks like there are no people trapped as first feared. Police have scaled down the search after sniffer dogs could find no trace of bodies under the rubble. The full scale of the rock fall is now becoming clear, the section that fell was 40 metres (130 feet) long.
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I’m shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred at the Los Gigantes beach this afternoon. The images of today, helping to dig up a young girl out the rubble will stay with me for eternity.
Being a local its shocking news considering that nothing was done before to stop people going to that end of the beach. There should have been signs to warn people about the dangers and closed the beach.
I hope Mr Gorrin, the Mayor of Santiago del Teide will close that end of the beach off for good, as you cant stop rocks from falling.
Terrible tragedy on any day, but this happend on All Saints Day (day of the dead in Spain.)
My heart goes out to the families and friends of the effected.
An absolutely appalling tragedy and sadly one that could have so easily been avoided if the powers that be had taken heed of previous warnings, not just recently, but a decade ago. Heartfelt sympathies to the relatives of those who sadly lost their lives.
What a terrible tragedy to happen on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Let’s hope the rocks are surveyed to prevent any further occurrence.
Very sad! Our thoughts are with the families and John, your efforts was not in vain
Shocking news. Makes you realise how fickle life can be. It’s the 2nd time this year that someone has been killed by falling rocks on a beach on Tenerife. An off duty Guardia Civil officer was buried by a rockfall below Montana Roja… but that one didn’t make the international news. I suppose in that case it was tragically bad luck (not that this one wasn’t) and couldn’t have been avoided.
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post “No teme” in your blog with the link to you?
Myself and my husband were on the beach on the day this tragedy occurred. After the rockslide happened, Stephen and other beachgoers went to help dig through the rubble for survivours. It was then that they found the body of british woman Marion O’Hara.
My greatest sympathies for everyone involved.
This tragedy will live with us forever.
We were on that beach three weeks ago and it only cordended off by red and white tape no signs were visiable to warn of the danger.
We would have been there on the7th October 2009 but changed our minds and went to los christaino instead. That was my birthday.We always sit by that wall in the same place when we go there.
our sympathies go out to the two ladys famileys.
god bless you all