Discovery of Victim’s Belongings Exposes Security Failures at Tenerife’s 'Añaza Eyesore'

The safety of the "Añaza eyesore" is back in the spotlight after a recent discovery reopened painful wounds for the family of Matías, the 27-year-old who died in the building on July 18. According to Diario de Avisos, a foreign visitor found a backpack containing the victim’s personal documents on the top floor this Tuesday, August 18. This discovery has cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of the security measures put in place by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council.

The finding highlights a frustrating contradiction. After Matías’s death, authorities told his family that it was too dangerous for anyone to enter the building to retrieve his belongings. His loved ones now point out the paradox: if the building is too unsafe for officials to enter, why is it still easily accessible to the public? The backpack, which has since been handed over to the National Police, proves that the site remains unsecured, despite the City Council’s promises in late July to reinforce the perimeter.

Matías’s mother, Xiomara, is now calling on the City Council, the Island Council, and the Canary Islands Government to hold an urgent meeting. She wants a clear, honest assessment of whether the current security measures are actually working and an update on the long-awaited demolition process. The family stresses that they are not looking for a political fight; they simply want to prevent further tragedies in a building that remains clearly hazardous.

This situation underscores the ongoing struggle to manage urban ruins in the Canary Islands, where legal disputes over property often clash with the need for public safety. The family’s plea is a broader call for institutional responsibility. While they wait for the building to be torn down, their demand is simple: authorities must immediately seal off all entry points—including those along the coast—to ensure the structure stops posing a constant threat to the public.