Calls for better ways to warn tourists about adverse weather on Lanzarote

The tragic death of two bathers at Famara beach last month has prompted calls for better ways to warn tourists of the dangers of certain beaches and risky weather conditions.

The drowning of a 38-year-old Romanian and a 28-year-old Indian occurred on 2nd November, when three bathers were caught up in a strong current that swept them out to sea. A third bather survived. The incident came just a few days after a 65-year-old German drowned off the Playa de la Cantería, near Órzola.

On both beaches, bathing is prohibited. Signs were erected at Órzola following a drowning in 2013, and a permanent red flag flies at Famara (the red flag prohibits bathing but not surfing). However, these bans have never been enforced with fines on Lanzarote, unlike on certain other beaches in the Canaries.

Sebastián Quintana of the Canarias: 1.500 kms de Costa association, which campaigns to reduce drownings on the Canaries, has called for more warnings to be given to tourists when weather alerts or pre-alerts are announced. He has pointed out that seven out of ten drownings on the Canaries happen to tourists and most of these incidents occur in the winter months.

He congratulated Teguise Ayuntamiento for placing lifeguards on Famara all year round but said that vigilance needs to be increased. He also called for hotels and tour guides to warn tourists when alerts were in place, as many are unaware of the warning system.

Most local residents know the dangers of Lanzarote’s northern coasts very well and avoid bathing there altogether. Tourists, however, attracted by their wild beauty, are often not so well informed, and may not receive warnings of rough conditions.

The same applies to hikers, who frequently have to be rescued from wild areas having not been aware of heatwave warning or storms.

And more and more tourists are heading to these wild areas all the time as the mode of tourism changes from resort-based packages and guided excursions to holiday rentals and hire cars, with social media also drawing visitors to previously little-known spots. Lanzarote’s authorities have traditionally avoided banning access to dangerous areas, instead applying a policy of not publicising them while allowing tourists to exercise their own judgment. However, their duty to protect the lives of tourists is also an increasingly important consideration. Responsibility, ultimately, remains with visitors, but in order to exercise that responsibility they require access to as much information as possible.