A 30-year-old Cuban woman identified as Nanci was nearly swept away by the ocean currents on Saturday at a beach in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, along with a Honduran woman named Yomars, according to local media reports.
The incident occurred on the morning of August 29 at San Benito beach in Tapachula.
Both were rescued alive thanks to the intervention of municipal police from the Secretariat of Public Security and Municipal Citizen Protection (SSPyPCM) of that city, who were conducting preventive patrols in the area when they received the emergency alert.
The rescue
The incident occurred around 11:20 AM near the palapa (rustic kiosk) known as "El Pelón," a popular spot for bathers in that coastal area.
It was other beachgoers who raised the alarm upon noticing that the two women were having serious difficulties staying afloat.
"Without wasting any time, the agents entered the water to assist them and managed to bring them to shore, where they were out of danger," reported a local outlet.
Once on the shore, staff from the Mexican Navy provided assistance and first aid.
Both women survived without any serious health consequences reported.
"The timely intervention of the municipal police prevented the incident from ending in tragedy," authorities highlighted.
A beach with a history of rescues
Playa San Benito is considered one of the most dangerous beaches on the Chiapas coast due to its rip currents and the strong waves that characterize the area.
Only 13 days prior, a 17-year-old Cuban teenager was swept away by a rip current at the same beach, in an area known as "The Surfing Spot," and had to be rescued by municipal lifeguards and a member of the Navy Secretariat.
During Holy Week in 2026, authorities reported at least five rescues on the beaches of Soconusco, three of which involved migrants, including a 28-year-old Cuban in the Ventana 1 area of San Benito.
The areas of highest risk identified by the authorities are the so-called "windows," particularly Window 2 and Window 3, where surveillance has been intensified.
For the Summer Lifesaver Operation 2026, active from June 29 to August 29, the Secretary of the Navy deployed 78 personnel to the beaches of Tapachula.
The migration context
Tapachula is home to one of the largest populations of stranded Cuban migrants in Mexico, with journalistic estimates ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 people in the city by 2026.
The locality serves as a waiting and transit point on the migration route to the north of the country and the United States.
In recent months, the arrival of Cubans deported from U.S. territory has further increased their presence in the region.
Many of these migrants, without jobs or resources, frequent the beaches of Soconusco while they wait for an opportunity to continue their journey.
Call to exercise extreme caution
Following the rescue on Saturday, the SSPyPCM issued a warning to swimmers and visitors to exercise increased caution at the beaches in the municipality.
Authorities reminded that "red flags indicate dangerous conditions for entering the sea" and urged people to avoid going into the water when that signal is visible.
They also recommended not to enter the sea after consuming alcoholic beverages and to always heed the instructions of security and rescue personnel to reduce the risk of accidents.
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