Tag: #StopDrownings

Latest Gran Canaria News, Views & Sunshine

Vox Enters Canarian Politics, Stage Right: Anti-Migrant, Anti-Feminist, Anti-Green, Anti-Autonomy, Anti-LGBT, Anti-Multiculturalism, Pro-Franco politics find a foothold on The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands were unable to avoid the rise of the far right on Sunday, unlike in 2019, writes Natalia G. Vargas in Canarias Ahora. Vox, which previously had no representation on the islands, managed to make its presence felt in several municipalities and councils this May 28. They also secured seats in the Canary Islands’ regional parliament, securing four deputies. “Defending what is ours, our own, and fighting against insecurity” were the slogans that underpinned Vox’s campaign in The Canary Islands, along with “family, employment, and freedom.” This rhetoric, coupled with an electoral program that was repeated across all local elections in Spain, proved sufficient. Dozens of cities and towns on the islands welcomed their first far right candidates of the modern democratic era into Canarian politics, with urban areas serving as their main strongholds.

La Alcaldesa Bueno Secures Incredible Majority in Mogán

Mogán, May 29, 2023 – The often controversial incumbent, O Bueno, La Alcaldesa, has achieved an unprecedented and resounding victory once more in Mogán. The candidate who switched her party’s name, for these elections, to “Juntos por Mogán”, a local ally of the regionalist conservatives “Coalición Canaria” (CC), will once again assume the role of mayor. Her party has clinched a rather noteworthy 17 out of the 21 seats in the Municipal Council of this popular tourism destination located on the sunny southwest of Gran Canaria.

The Canary Guide Día de Canarias #WeekendTips 26-28 May 2023

 
What an interesting last weekend of May ahead. Weather predictions are showing some rain showers are likely across Gran Canaria. This extended #WeekendTips covers up to Tuesday, when all things Canarian are celebrated on the Día de Canarias. There’ll be some gorgeous Patron Saints’ festivities happening in San Fernando de Maspalomas as well as in Valleseco.

Fun Fact:
Valleseco literally means “dry valley” in Spanish, but is actually one of the wettest municipalities Gran Canaria. Nestling between the famous fresh water sources of Firgas & Teror, half way up the island’s mountainous northern slopes, this area is well known for its apple growers, cider and its weekly market

Six weeks since the unexplained disappearance of Anna-Karin on Gran Canaria

The authorities on Gran Canaria have been engaged in a rigorous search for Swedish tourist Anna-Karin Bengtsson, who went missing in the south of Gran Canaria around April 9. Her unexplained disappearance has caused her family much distress, with no clues to her whereabouts having emerged in the six weeks since they first realised her phone was no longer functioning.

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Suspected drowning at Amadores beach after woman pulled from the water

A woman died shortly after one o’clock this Wednesday afternoon at Amadores beach on the south coast of Gran Canaria, according to reports from the main 112 Emergency Coordination Centre. A group of bathers retrieved the woman from the water, who was unconscious with presumed signs of drowning.
After warning the 112 emergency services, the woman, who has not yet been identified, received attention from rescuers stationed at the aforementioned beach, who attempted to perform resuscitation maneuvers. The woman was found to be suffering from cardio-respiratory arrest. In spite of their best efforts, it was not possible to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Amadores is one of the most popular beaches on the Costa Mogán, not far from the resort town of Puerto Rico.  It is an artificially constructed bay, specifically designed for gentle bathing, and so accidents of this sort are extremely rare.  It is primarily used by tourists.

93 people drowned in the Canary Islands region during 2017

#StopDrownings
Downing deaths last year were more than double the number of road deaths in the region.  93 people died by drowning in the Canary Islands during 2017, making the archipelago the worst autonomous community in Spain, having the highest number of deaths by drowning last year, according to the National Drowning Report prepared by the ‘Real Federación Española de Salvamento y Socorrismo’.
The Canary Islands was once again the Spanish territory with the most drowning victims, just as it was in 2016, and with numbers having significantly increased from 71 the previous year to reach 93 deaths by drowning in 2017.  19.3% of the total drowning deaths in Spanish aquatic spaces happened in this archipelago. 73 men and 20 women drowned.
Based on this grim record 71%, of those who drowned in Canary Islands waters, were bathers, 13% were fishermen, 6% were taking part in water sports , 6% were diving and the rest accounted for 4%.
67% of those dead who were identified were foreigners of at up to 13 different nationalities; with victims from Germany, Finland, Wales, Belgium, China, Romania, Poland, Cuba, United Kingdom, France, Romania, Sweden and Denmark. However this sad death toll is led by the Germans followed by the British and the French “at some great distance”.
The figures indicate that drowning is by far the most common cause of accidental death in the Canary Islands, being double the number of deaths recorded due to a traffic accident. For the fourth consecutive year, the Canary Islands saw the highest numbers in Spain of deaths by drowning, followed by Andalusia which closed 2017 with 76 such deaths.

In total Spain closes 2017 with 481 people having been killed by drowning in Spanish aquatic spaces.

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