• A strong wave swept a group of swimmers into the sea
• Wave warnings were in effect

Spanish authorities announced the death of four people and the disappearance of a fifth after a strong wave swept a group of swimmers into the sea while they were in a popular pool on the rocky western coast of Spain’s Tenerife Island.

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Rescue teams recovered three bodies—a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman, and another man whose details were not disclosed—during an extensive rescue operation that used jet skis and helicopters to locate the individuals swept away by the sea.

The fourth victim, a woman, died a day after being resuscitated and airlifted to the hospital.

The governments of Romania and Slovakia reported that two of the victims were Romanian and two were Slovak, without providing further details about their identities.

The pool is located in Isla Cangrejo on the coast of Los Gigantes in Tenerife, and is popular among foreign tourists, according to local media.

It is surrounded by volcanic rocks on one side and a wall separating it from the sea on the other. The pool is approximately at sea level, making it dangerous during high waves that can easily exceed the concrete barrier.

Local media indicated that wave warnings were in effect at the time of the incident. One outlet reported that the pool had been closed to swimmers since December 3.

Residents said the swimmers ignored signs and fences put in place to prevent entry due to bad weather, emphasizing the difficulty of holding onto anyone swept by the sea on the slippery rocks at the bottom of the pool.

Emilio Navarro, mayor of Santiago del Teide, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, noting that rescue teams continue to search for the missing swimmer.

He added that authorities are taking measures to warn people and prevent them from using the pool during rough waves, saying: "We ask people to pay attention to the signs placed by authorities to ensure everyone’s safety and protection."