The UK Foreign Office has issued an updated warning for families traveling to Spain this summer, emphasizing the importance of supervising children around water. The advisory comes as parts of Europe, including Spain, experience extreme heatwave temperatures.
Key Safety Advice for Swimming Pools and Beaches
The Foreign Office updated its travel information for Spain, stating that "every year people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Spain." The department stresses that children must always be supervised, with specific guidance for pools: "Always supervise children. Keep small children within arms-reach in and around swimming pools, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present."
For beachgoers, the advice adds: "Take care when swimming in the sea. Always supervise children and keep small children within arms-reach. Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents." Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death, and the Foreign Office warns against diving into unknown water or swimming where a river runs into the sea.
Beach Flag System and Local Hazards
Many Spanish beaches operate a flag system. The Foreign Office advises: "Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Take extra care and get local knowledge if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs. If you are walking along unmonitored beaches, be aware that waves can come in further than expected and have strong undertows."
Heatwave Conditions Across Spain
The warning follows a June heatwave that saw temperatures soar across the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's national weather service, Aemet, issued red alerts for temperatures of 44°C in southern Andalusia, as well as warnings of 40°C in the normally temperate Cantabria and Basque Country regions along the northern Atlantic coast.
Aemet meteorologist Rubén del Campo said Spain, which has experienced increasingly torrid summers, is only going to get hotter due to climate change. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and appearing outside the traditional July-August window. Of the dozen heatwaves Aemet has recorded in June since 1975, half have occurred since 2015. Human-driven climate change is heating the atmosphere above Spain and surrounding sea waters, del Campo added.
Increased Risk as Temperatures Rise
With temperatures likely to remain warm over the coming summer weeks, more people are expected to seek cooling in pools or sea water, increasing the importance of the Foreign Office's safety advice. The update coincides with easyJet's recent announcement of five new routes from Newcastle Airport, including flights to Barcelona.
