The most tragic start to the year on Catalan beaches in a decade

Barcelona"We are facing an exceptionally bad year," admit sources from Catalan Civil Protection regarding mortality on Catalan beaches. This beginning of 2025 has seen the highest number of drownings in the last decade, with 25 fatalities on the Catalan coast as of Thursday, four more than last year and almost double the number recorded ten years ago in the same period. The latest victims are two children, aged 11 and 13, who drowned Tuesday night while swimming at Larga beach in Salou, Tarragonès. The children were British brothers, and their father, who also entered the water to rescue them, was rescued by the Emergency Services.

The same sources explain that it is difficult to find a reason for this increase, although it is true that the bathing season has started earlier than other years due to the high temperatures recorded at the beginning of summer. Furthermore, there have been several episodes of rough seas, a combination that has contributed to the number of deaths on Catalan beaches, especially those without lifeguards or lifeguards. The vast majority of victims are elderly men of Spanish nationality, although the latest six are foreign nationals, coinciding with the increase in tourists on Catalan beaches this July.

In addition, three people swimming in pools and another three swimming in rivers or lakes have already died in 2025. In total, 31 people have died by drowning. For all these reasons, Rosa Mata, head of the duty station at the Catalan Operational Coordination Center (CECAT)—which is the highest coordination and information center of the Civil Protection structure—urges citizens not to let their guard down and to be responsible when swimming. "You have to pay close attention to the signs and the flag, don't swim if you've eaten a lot or drunk alcohol, and don't swim too far out," warns the expert, since the waves can play tricks on us and it's better to be cautious.

If you're going to the beach with small children, it's important not to lose sight of them "at any time," especially if they're using a float or something else that floats them, as the current can quickly carry them away from the beach, Mata assures. Civil Protection currently doesn't plan to ask any Catalan city council to reinforce coastal surveillance—since lifeguards are the responsibility of the municipal government—but it will strengthen awareness-raising and information measures for citizens to be careful when bathing. "There's no particularly dangerous beach, but you have to be careful," the expert concludes.

Two children dead in Salou

Tuesday was a dark day with the death of two minors on Salou's Larga beach. The 112 call was received at 8:30 p.m., when the beach was no longer patrolled by lifeguards. Seven SEM units, the Salou local police, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), and five units from the Generalitat (Catalan Fire Brigade) were dispatched. The Emergency Services rescued the man, but were unable to save the lives of the two minors. A team of psychologists was also dispatched to the scene to assist the victims' families.

On Tuesday afternoon, the beaches of Tarragona also witnessed a third death by drowning. A 54-year-old German man drowned on the Cabo de San Pedro beach in Cambrils, in Baix Camp. The 112 emergency services received the call at 6:36 p.m., when the beach was under surveillance and the yellow flag was up, but the emergency services were unable to revive the man.