The most tragic incident at the Añaza ruins on Tenerife was undoubtedly the death of a 13-year-old girl last December. The ruins have stood on the coast for 52 years. Construction hoardings are intended to prevent visitors from climbing, but some ignore any barriers. The girl fell to her death whilst playing. A 27-year-old man recently met the same fate.
On 18 July, the most recent fatality to date occurred at the ruins. The young man also fell and died of his serious injuries at the scene of the accident. His mother has now spoken to the media. She is calling for the ruins to be demolished at long last.
Following the young man’s death, his personal belongings were left on the roof of the derelict building. It was deemed too dangerous to retrieve them. A tourist has now taken it upon himself to do so. During an unauthorised visit, he discovered the rucksack containing various personal items and handed it over to the police. They passed it on to the victim’s parents, who are now expressing their concern.
Building ruin on Tenerife worries parents of the latest fatality
The Añaza ruin is not just a memorial to those who were too adventurous. It is also synonymous with the ill-considered construction boom of the 1960s to the 1980s. The building, which has stood as a shell since 1973, is situated right on the north-east coast of Tenerife. The plan was to create more than 40,000 square metres of living space, spread across 741 rooms.
Then the money ran out and the developers disappeared. To this day, not all the owners of this eyesore – which stands in the middle of what is actually a protected natural area – have been traced. That is also what makes demolition so difficult: politicians must nevertheless take the ownership situation into account.
Following the young girl’s death, the matter gained fresh momentum. The town is due to have the title to the property transferred to its name. Only once the expropriation and transfer of title have become legally valid can the building be demolished for a seven-figure sum – paid for by the public purse.
In the meantime, a hoarding is intended to protect visitors and onlookers. In their letter, the family criticises the fact that this is quite clearly insufficient. Time and again, visitors are spotted on the roof of the ruin; sometimes, photos of this go viral on social media.
The family is calling for „additional measures to be taken at last to properly secure the building“. At the same time, the parents are asking for a meeting with politicians and the authorities. So far, the authorities have not responded to their demands.
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