The first half of 2025 marks a tragic record in Spain: 211 people have died from drowning by the end of June. This figure surpasses all values since 2015, when the Royal Spanish Federation for Rescue and Lifesaving began systematically compiling this data in the National Drowning Report (INA). The statistics paint an alarming picture and call for urgent preventive measures.
June 2025: The Deadliest Month of the Decade in Spanish Waters
The balance for June is particularly shocking: 73 drowning deaths were recorded, equivalent to one fatality every ten hours. This makes June 2025 even more tragic than the previous record-holding month of June 2017, when 71 deaths were reported. This accumulation of tragic events in a single month underscores the need for increased vigilance and safety precautions during the summer months.
Regional Hotspots: Where the Risk is Greatest
The distribution of deaths shows clear regional differences. Andalusia leads the sad statistics with 39 drowning deaths, followed by the Canary Islands (35), Galicia (26), Catalonia (23), the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands (17 each), and Castile and León (16). In other areas of Spain, the number of deaths is below ten, which could indicate specific risk factors or different prevention measures in the affected regions.
The Profile of Victims: Who is Particularly at Risk?
Analysis of victim profiles reveals recurring patterns. Of those who died in June, 59 were men and 14 were women. Cumulatively since the beginning of the year, there have been 165 men and 46 women, confirming the trend of higher male involvement. The majority of the deceased were Spanish nationals, although eight Europeans, three Americans, one Asian, and one African also lost their lives last month.
A particularly concerning aspect is the high number of minor victims: 20 children and adolescents have drowned since the beginning of the year, half of them in June alone. Four of these children were under three years old, five were between 11 and 17 years old, and two were between four and ten years old. However, the largest age group for fatalities is between 45 and 74 years, with 64 cases recorded in 2025 so far.
Locations of Incidents: Beaches, Rivers, and Pools as Risk Zones
Most drowning accidents in June occurred on beaches, where 44 people died. Eight more fatalities occurred in rivers and eight in swimming pools, while 13 people lost their lives in other bodies of water. This distribution highlights the need for safety measures in all types of waters, not just the most obvious ones.
Lack of Supervision: A Critical Factor in Drowning Accidents
An alarming factor is the absence of adequate supervision. In 36 of the 73 cases recorded in June, there was no active lifeguard surveillance service at the time of the incident. In 31 cases, such a service was not provided due to the nature of the environment. In only six cases were active lifeguards present at the time of the accident. This indicates serious gaps in the safety infrastructure that urgently need to be addressed to prevent further tragedies.
