The bathing season in Catalonia, which began on June 15th and will continue until September 15th, is showing a particularly alarming trend in the province of Tarragona. In just a month and a half, 15 drowning deaths have been recorded, making the demarcation the area with the most victims in all of Catalonia. This figure represents a significant increase compared to previous years.
According to data from Protecció Civil, between January 1st and July 31st, 2026, 18 people have lost their lives in aquatic spaces in Tarragona, accounting for 45% of the Catalan total. If we focus solely on the bathing campaign, the percentage is even higher.
The trend is clearly upward when compared to previous years. In 2024, Tarragona accounted for 25.5% of fatal drownings in Catalonia, a percentage that rose to 32.6% in 2025. Now, the province accounts for nearly half of all victims.
The summer of 2026 is shaping up to be the deadliest in recent years for the province, with 15 deaths during the beach campaign (11 on beaches, 1 in inland waters, and 3 in swimming pools) before August even begins, and with six weeks of the official campaign still ahead.
The severity of the situation persists when the analysis is extended to the entire year. The 18 fatalities recorded by July already surpass the complete annual figures for 2024 (12 deaths) and 2025 (15 deaths). Meanwhile, Catalonia as a whole shows a more stable trend, with 47 deaths in 2024 and 46 in 2025.
Beaches continue to be the most dangerous setting, accounting for 14 of the year's 18 fatalities in Tarragona (11 during the summer campaign). Swimming pools also show an increase, with three deaths this year, and one incident occurred in inland waters in the channel of the Ebre river in Roquetes.
Municipalities such as Salou (three victims), Tarragona city, Calafell, Cunit, and Cambrils have registered multiple incidents. The most tragic event was on June 19th at Platja de l'Arrabassada in Tarragona, where three minors lost their lives.
In addition to fatalities, emergency services have attended numerous non-fatal drownings on beaches and in pools in municipalities like Salou, Cunit, L'Ametlla de Mar, Cambrils, L'Aldea, Mont-roig del Camp, and La Sénia, reflecting an increase in risky situations.
