Maria Luísa beach tragedy in 2009 still not forgotten
With the arrival of summer, Albufeira has resumed its yearly awareness campaign in which it warns beachgoers about the dangers of cliffs.
It’s been 15 years since a family of five was killed by falling rocks on Albufeira’s Maria Luísa beach, but the impact of the tragedy is still felt today.
In an effort to avoid similar tragedies from occurring, the local council organises an awareness campaign every summer, targeted at beachgoers who may be unaware of just how unstable cliffs at Algarve beach can be. They are advised to respect the signposting at beaches and the safety distances indicated in order to “avoid risky behaviour and possible accidents.”
“Prevention is the best way of avoiding accidents,” says Albufeira mayor José Carlos Rolo, adding that the awareness campaign which the council carries out every year during the bathing season shows its commitment to the issue of beach safety.
“Albufeira is and we want it to continue to be known as a safe destination,” the mayor states.
The campaign is carried out with the support of Portugal’s maritime authority (AMN), maritime police, the lifeguard association of Albufeira (ANSA), as well as the Albufeira public health unit, which this year is also using the opportunity to warn beachgoers about the risks of sun exposure.
“Albufeira has 30 kilometres of coastline, surrounded by cliffs of rare beauty, being the municipality in the country with the biggest number of Blue Flags raised (25), which proves the environmental excellence of its beaches. However, the natural erosion process which they are subjected to (…) puts them in risky situations, increasing the danger of rock falls,” the council warns in a statement to the press.
“Every summer, or even outside of the bathing season (…) it is common to see people walking atop the cliffs, seeking their shade or doing poses to take a selfie near a pretty rock formation, showing a lack of knowledge about the dangers they are facing,” it adds, explaining that the awareness campaign, which also sees flyers being handed out to beachgoers in Portuguese and English, aims to make sure beachgoers are well-aware of the possible consequences of these risky behaviours.
“Thus, for your safety, whenever you go to the beach, follow the advice of the municipal civil protection service: choose beaches with surveillance; do not remain at the top or base of cliffs and don’t park at the top of them; avoid risky access routes through cliffs to the beach ; respect the recommendations of lifeguards; stay away from areas where there are loose rocks or fissures; do not use the area near cliffs to seek cover from the sun and wind,” the council adds.
