A British brother and sister, aged 11 and 13, have died after drowning off a beach on the east coast of Spain, according to local authorities.
The two children, along with their father, were pulled from the water at Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona by emergency services on Tuesday evening.
“Tragically, the boy and girl could not be saved despite the best efforts of rescuers,” said the head of the local police force, José Luis Gargallo.
He added that the father survived “although he had swallowed a large amount of water and was in a state of exhaustion”.
Officials earlier reported that the children who died had both been boys, rather than a boy and a girl.
“The sea was rough, and people sometimes underestimate its power – especially in this area, which is usually very calm,” said Mr Gargallo.
“Ninety percent of the time, there is no danger on that beach, and it is considered an ideal spot for swimming. But [Tuesday] was different – not just at that beach, but along the entire coast.”
Lifeguards on the beach had finished by the time the emergency call came in about the drowning children shortly before 21:00.
Mr Gargallo said the children and father were from a family of five, and that the mother and other children were back at their hotel nearby.
He added that authorities would “review everything” and take steps to prevent any similar future incidents.
Speaking to the BBC, local authorities in Salou said they were deeply saddened by Tuesday night’s tragedy.
A minute’s silence was held outside Salou town hall just before midday on Wednesday.
Police earlier said sea conditions were rough and the beach had a yellow flag throughout the day – meaning swimming is allowed but caution is advised – local media reported.
Seven medical units were dispatched to the scene and police and fire services also attended.
Authorities also sent a team of psychologists to support the family.
A 54-year-old German man also drowned on Tuesday at the beach of Cap de Sant Pere de Cambrils, a short distance along the coast from Llarga beach.
The deaths bring the number of fatalities on Catalan beaches to 16 since the summer season began on 15 June – five more than the same period last year, officials added.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The civil protection force urged “the importance of taking extreme precautions on beaches, swimming pools and inland waters this summer”.
According to figures from the Salou municipality, around 1.3 million British tourists visit the town each year.
It comes after a number of other British deaths in Spain this summer.
Two British men, aged 19 and 26, died in separate incidents at a hotel and music venue in Ibiza earlier this month.
