The act of mourning was led by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Mayor of Tarragona, Rubén Viñuales, with the presence of the victims' families. A long and loud applause ended the silence, in a moment filled with emotion. The city will remain in mourning until Monday, with flags at half-mast and institutional events suspended.
The tribute took place in Plaça de la Font, where family members, neighbours, friends, and peers of the young people gathered. The three minors died after swimming in the Cova del Gos area, which had a yellow flag. One of the children was twelve years old and the other two were thirteen. One died at the scene, and the other two were taken to Joan XXIII Hospital, where they later died.
The Councilor for Environment, Public Space, and Youth of Tarragona, Guillermo García De Castro, expressed condolences to the families and stressed the importance of respecting the instructions of the lifeguard services and the Guàrdia Urbana. He recalled that swimming is prohibited in the rocky area and highlighted the improved coordination between Civil Protection, Guardia Urbana, and the Red Cross to prevent future incidents.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a group of six young people were swimming in the Cova del Gos area. Three managed to get out of the water, but the other three had to be rescued in critical condition. The area was outside the lifeguards' coverage. Psychologists from the Emergency Medical System (SEM) have attended to a total of 52 people over two days, including family members and the minors' circle, as well as other affected individuals.
