Cruise Passenger Dies as Huge Wave Hits Tenerife Seafront

The coastline of Tenerife
Cruise Industry Europe Accidents & Emergencies
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Updated Published

A tragic incident in Puerto de la Cruz, on the north coast of Tenerife, resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to several others after a massive wave struck the seafront on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

According to emergency officials, a group of tourists - some identified as cruise ship passengers - had gathered on the pier to watch the rough seas when a powerful wave suddenly surged over the promenade, sweeping several people into the water.

“None of them were swimming; they were simply observing the sea,” said Sebastián Quintana, president of the coastal safety organization Canarias, 1,500 km de costa. He described the event as one of the most distressing scenes he had ever witnessed. Despite official warnings about hazardous waves, the intensity of the swell caught onlookers completely off guard.

Rescue teams responded swiftly, but the outcome was tragic. Ten people were affected, including one woman who lost her life and three others who were seriously injured. Authorities confirmed that some of those pulled into the ocean were foreign tourists who had arrived earlier that day on a cruise ship docked in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for an island excursion.

The woman who died is believed to have been Dutch. She was rescued from the sea in cardiac arrest but could not be revived despite prompt medical assistance.

At the time of the accident, parts of the Canary Islands were under a “red alert” due to severe maritime conditions, with waves reported to have reached heights of up to 15 feet.

Local officials have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and once again urged residents and visitors to heed sea safety warnings and stay away from coastal walkways during dangerous weather conditions.

Authorities have not confirmed which cruise ship the victim had been traveling on, but port records indicate that four vessels were in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on November 8, 2025:

  • Silver Dawn (Silversea Cruises)
  • Mein Schiff 3 (TUI Cruises)
  • Azura (P\&O Cruises)
  • Sky Princess (Princess Cruises)