Tenerife Enhances Beach Safety with Fleet of 30 State-of-the-Art Aquatic Rescue Drones

TENERIFE – Tenerife is taking a major step forward in coastal protection with the deployment of 30 cutting-edge water rescue drones specifically designed to assist, stabilize, and evacuate swimmers during ocean emergencies.

The new equipment will be strategically distributed to ensure island-wide readiness. Each of Tenerife’s 28 coastal municipalities will be assigned one drone for their local lifeguard units, while the Tenerife Fire Brigade Consortium will operate two high-powered units for complex rescue operations. To maximize operational performance, local first responders are undergoing specialized technical training in drone piloting under heavy swell conditions.

A Targeted Strategy to Reduce Coastal Incidents

This safety initiative follows a comprehensive review of coastal emergency statistics over the past decade. Island fire services responded to 625 shoreline incidents during that period, including 164 sea rescues that sadly resulted in 26 fatalities.

Detailed risk mapping conducted across Tenerife identified seven primary accident hotspots. These high-risk zones alone account for nearly 40% of all sea rescues and roughly half of all drowning fatalities recorded on the island, highlighting the urgent need for rapid-response technology along vulnerable coastal stretches.

Live Demonstration at El Médano and Advanced Capabilities

The official launch took place during a live demonstration at El Médano beach in Granadilla de Abona. Operated remotely from the shore, the drones feature optical cameras to locate casualties in high waves and assess sea currents in real time.

The devices can instantly deliver flotation devices to conscious casualties, rapidly transport a firefighter directly to the scene, and tow both the rescuer and the casualty back to safety. Built to withstand rough ocean conditions, they can submerge beneath breaking waves without losing power and boast an operational battery life of approximately one hour.

For travelers staying in independent accommodations such as holiday apartments in los cristianos , this pioneering technology provides extra peace of mind, ensuring that Tenerife's world-famous beaches remain among the safest holiday destinations in the Atlantic.