Swimming near the Cacela Velha inlet is “dangerous” due to “risks posed by strong currents,” says National Maritime Authority (AMN)
Ten people were rescued by maritime rescue services in Cacela Velha, Vila Real de Santo António in just one hour on Wednesday afternoon (August 23).
The rescues took place between 3pm and 4pm during high tide when the group was spotted in distress after being swept away by strong currents near the Cacela Velha inlet.
Members of the ‘SeaWatch’ project and the Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António lifeboat stations were deployed to rescue the victims as they struggled to cross the Ria Formosa in an unsupervised area.
Six of the victims were swiftly rescued by lifeguard crews from the Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António stations, while the remaining four were rescued by ‘SeaWatch’ members. All 10 people were safely transported back to land, injury-free and without needing medical assistance.
In a statement to the press, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) stresses that the Cacela Velha inlet is a “dangerous area not recommended for swimming due to the risks posed by strong currents, despite the high number of visitors to the area.”
To ensure that rescue services are swift, the AMN has deployed two rescue boats from the Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António stations, an Amarok vehicle from the ‘SeaWatch’ project, a jet ski, a quad bike, and a patrol boat from the maritime police command in Tavira.
