Firefighters and aquatic rescue teams in Playas de Rosarito have positioned themselves along the city’s beaches to monitor a surge of swimmers during Holy Week. Water rescue personnel are running continuous patrols and providing immediate assistance to beachgoers as the holiday draws large crowds to the coast south of Tijuana.
Rosarito Mayor Rocío Adame ordered crews to maintain constant vigilance along the entire shoreline. Authorities are urging visitors not to enter restricted areas or swim near beaches flagged as unsafe.
Some Rosarito Beaches Closed Over Water Quality
The deployment comes as Baja California’s COFEPRIS (Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risks) released water quality results for local beaches. Three Rosarito beaches were declared unsafe for swimming: Rosarito I (near the pier), Hotel Rivera, and Rosarito III (near the thermoelectric plant). Swimmers should avoid these locations during the holiday period and check for posted signs before entering the water.
Director Mercado de Santiago of the city’s Civil Protection and Fire Services office confirmed that lifeguard and emergency stations are active along open beaches. The city is asking beachgoers to locate those stations on arrival.
Safety Rules for the Water
Rosarito officials have issued specific recommendations for anyone headed to the beach this week. Keep children within arm’s reach near the water. Do not swim if you have consumed alcohol. Wear sunscreen and stay hydrated throughout the day. Obey all flag warnings posted by lifeguards: a red or black flag means the water is closed to swimmers entirely.
Rip currents are the primary ocean hazard along Rosarito’s stretch of Pacific coast. These strong, narrow channels of water pull swimmers away from shore and cause the majority of ocean rescues during peak holiday periods. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the beach rather than fighting directly toward shore.
Tourist Police on Patrol
Beyond the beach, Rosarito’s Tourist Police are stationed throughout the city’s main recreational zones during Holy Week. They provide bilingual assistance and can respond to incidents on the spot. Visitors who need help anywhere in Baja California can also dial 078, a toll-free hotline staffed 24 hours a day by bilingual operators who offer information, orientation, and follow-up for any situation.
Rosarito sits about 20 minutes south of the Tijuana border crossing and is one of the closest Mexican beach towns for Southern California day-trippers. The combination of holiday crowds, cold Pacific water, and strong currents makes the lifeguard presence a critical part of the city’s annual Holy Week preparations.
This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.