Canary Islands to Fine Careless Rescues Amid Rising Incidents

The Canary Islands government is working on a new law to introduce fines for rescues caused by carelessness. This move comes amid growing worries about the high number of rescue operations and the failure of an old fee system, approved 14 years ago, which was never actually put into practice. The Directorate General of Emergencies is currently figuring out the exact amounts for these fines, which will be based on the real cost of the rescue missions. Most of these costs are currently covered by the Canary Islands Emergency and Rescue Group (GES).

Recent events highlight the scale of this problem. For instance, in September 2005, Leo Zaal, a Dutchman, experienced the harsh conditions of Tenerife's Anaga mountains firsthand. Zaal was lost for 96 hours after falling into the Almáciga ravine, well past the typical 72-hour survival limit. He was found just 300 meters from the Montes de Anaga Hostel, where he was staying. His rescue, carried out by four firefighters who heard a faint sound among the plants, ended an ordeal that left him with lasting physical injuries, though he states he suffered no psychological trauma.

Nearly two decades later, similar incidents are happening with alarming frequency. Recently, 75-year-old British national Susan Hornby was rescued from the same area after spending a day and a half in a dehydrated state. Both cases show how vulnerable hikers can be to the unpredictable landscape and weather.

Zaal, who was 48 and strong at the time, blamed a sudden change in weather for his disorientation, despite having been warned by a local guide. He also pointed out that some hiking guides don't provide enough information about the sudden weather shifts common in Anaga. After his rescue and 12 days in the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC), Zaal left the island, where he had lived since 1998. Now in the Netherlands, he still feels a strong connection to Tenerife and his rescuers, whom he met again years later.

Statistics clearly show why new regulations are needed. In just the second week of this month, 10 rescue missions were launched to help 11 hikers in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote. Most were tourists over 60 who got lost or had accidents because they weren't prepared. In 2023, the archipelago recorded 216 land, sea, and air rescues, with Tenerife leading the list with 96 incidents. An older law from 2012 did include fees for these services – for example, 36 euros per hour for each GES member and 2,000 euros for every hour a helicopter was used. However, this law was never enforced, making it outdated and highlighting the urgent need for a reform that ensures people take responsibility when their negligence leads to a rescue.