Hour-by-hour timeline of Tenerife tragedy as officials warn against 'reckless behaviour'

Tenerife suffered the Canary Islands' "most tragic day" for accidents at sea on Saturday after three people were killed and at least 15 were injured during a coastal pre-alert for rough seas. As more details on the separate incidents emerge from the Spanish island, the Express has put together a timeline of events.

A pre-alert for coastal phenomena was put in place on Friday (November 7) in Tenerife due to large waves and fierce winds. The pre-alert was issued by the Canary Islands Government and to all islands in the archipelago and remained in place on Sunday (November 9). Rough to very rough seas were expected, with swells coming from the northwest at heights of seven to 12 feet. In the warning, 112 emergency services advised the public not to stand at the ends of piers or breakwaters and urged individuals not to risk taking photographs or videos near where the waves break. It also stressed that any planned sports and water activities should be postponed, as well as discouraging camping on beaches when sea conditions are poor.

Maritime forecasts indicated northeast winds at Force 4-5 (12-25mph) with areas reaching Force 6 (25-31mph) offshore between Tenerife and Gran Canaria and southeast of Gran Canaria.

Saturday's first incident occurred in the morning at Roque de Las Bodegas beach in Taganana, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, when six French tourists were injured after they were swept into the water by a wave. According to local police, the tourists had disregarded warning markers placed in the area. One person was airlifted to hospital with moderate injuries.

At 2.02pm, 112 reported the discovery of a deceased man floating in the sea at El Cabezo beach in Granadilla de Abona, in the south of the island. In this case, the Beach Rescue Service lifeguards confirmed that the man was in cardiac arrest and began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the arrival of the Canary Islands Emergency Service personnel, who continued to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation without success, confirming his death. The age and nationality of this victim has not yet been disclosed.

Just an hour later, at 3pm, another wave hit the pier at Puerto de la Cruz, in northern Tenerife, sweeping 10 people into the water. According to EFE, some of the people were passengers on a cruise ship that had arrived that morning at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, from where they set off by bus on a sightseeing tour of the island.

Local police officers and other people at the scene rescued those affected from the water, and the local security force confirmed that a woman was in cardiac arrest and began to perform CPR. The Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) personnel, who sent five ambulances to the scene, continued to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation without success, and her death was confirmed. The woman is understood to be a 75-year-old cruise ship passenger.

At 4.42pm, 112 received a new report that a man had fallen into the sea in the Charco del Viento area, in the municipality of La Guancha, also in the North of the island. A Canary Islands Government helicopter took part in the rescue operation, rescuing the victim and evacuating him to the helipad at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife pier, where SUC personnel confirmed his death due to the severity of his injuries. Local reports describe the victim as a 43-year-old local living in nearby La Orotava who was fishing when he was swept into the sea.

The names of the deceased are yet to be released by the authorities.

This comes as the president of the maritime safety association Canarias 1,500 Km de Costa, Sebastián Quintana, called for greater awareness after the horror incidents. He described the accidents as preventable, blaming "reckless behaviour" and a "complete lack of understanding of the Atlantic Ocean's power", particularly among tourists unfamiliar with local sea conditions.