Overview

• At around 4 pm on June 25, seven hikers trapped by a rising tide in the Zumaia flysch were airlifted by an Ertzaintza helicopter supported by the Unidad de Vigilancia y Rescate.
• All seven hikers were in good physical condition and did not require medical assistance after reaching safety.
• The latest incident follows a March 30 rescue that lasted more than four hours and involved Ertzaintza, Bomberos forales and Cruz Roja Gipuzkoa to free 12 stranded visitors.
• Recurring tide-related strandings at the rocky formations have sparked scrutiny of hiker preparedness and whether these events stem from negligence or unpredictable tides.
• Regional authorities now face questions about the expense and coordination of these complex rescue operations at a popular coastal attraction.