Catalonia has recorded 39 deaths at beaches, swimming pools, rivers and reservoirs during this summer’s safety campaign, according to Joan Ramon Cabello, deputy director of prevention. The figure, reported on Sunday 6 September, is higher than the totals accumulated in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and residents and visitors using coastal or inland bathing areas are being urged to treat every swim as a potential safety risk.

Cabello said the official summer campaign remains in force until 15 September. Speaking on Herrera en COPE Catalunya, a COPE Catalunya radio programme presented by José Miguel Cruz, he said incidents can occur even where lifeguards are present and the beach safety flag is green.

“There is never zero risk, and people must always bear in mind that an accident can happen.”

Deaths spread across the summer

Cabello compared the cumulative toll with a single major disaster, saying deaths at bathing sites can receive less attention because they occur separately over several weeks.

“If 39 people died in a fire, it would be a major headline, but deaths on beaches are dispersed.”

He said preventive measures and increased lifeguard provision must be accompanied by public awareness and caution during swimming and leisure activities.

Heat and dry vegetation add to emergency risks

Cabello also warned that several consecutive days of high temperatures, including very warm nights in cities such as Barcelona, can harm people with existing health conditions and other vulnerable residents. He said heat can also drive large numbers of people towards beaches and pools, increasing exposure to water-related risks.

Winter and spring rainfall encouraged dense vegetation growth, he said, but the grass has dried during summer and become fuel for potential forest fires. Emergency services must distribute resources according to the severity and timing of each climatic threat, he added.

Cabello urged people to consult Catalan Civil Protection’s official self-protection guidance before going to the mountains or water, and to follow any confinement or evacuation instructions issued during an emergency. He said such orders can be counter-intuitive, but reacting incorrectly can increase the danger.

Reported by cope.es.