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An update to the tragic news from the Canary Islands, where rough seas have now taken five lives over the past 48 hours. A critically injured Italian fisherman, one of two swept out to sea off Lanzarote's south coast on Monday, passed away last night at the island's general hospital. Sources confirmed the details to EFE yesterday.

 

The two men, both residents of Lanzarote, were hit by a rogue wave around 3.50pm in the Charcones area of Playa Blanca, Yaiza municipality. This brings the total to five deaths since the weekend, including the four from the natural pool incident in Tenerife's Los Gigantes. A pre-alert for waves up to four metres was active, peaking at high tide around 3.30pm. The victim was airlifted 500 metres from the spot but suffered cardiorespiratory arrest and couldn't be revived, even on the stretcher at hospital. His companion managed to reach shore unaided.

 

The Tenerife deaths echo the wave dangers a month ago on November 8, when three lost their lives across the islands. There, a search continues for one still missing from the fenced-off Acantilado pool in Santiago del Teide, where warnings in multiple languages had been ignored amid Friday's pre-alerts affecting coasts from El Hierro to Gran Canaria.

 

These back-to-back incidents underline the fierce coastal conditions, with authorities urging extra caution.

 

 

Image: Elias/Pixabay