By PAULO SILVESTRE paulo.silvestre@theresidentgroup.com
Beach goers have been criticised by the authorities for continuing to visit dangerous areas despite the presence of warning signs.
Portimão Maritime Police Commander Cruz Martins made his comments following a rock fall on Vau beach on May 26.
The incident resulted in minor injuries to a four-year old Irish child who was playing close to the cliffs (see Algarve Resident May 28 edition).
Cruz Martins said: “We work with the regional water authority, ARH, the local emergency services and Civil Protection to ensure the safety of beach goers and do all within our powers to minimise the risk of rock falls on beaches.
“Safety on the beaches must be the responsibility of all, particularly when attending beaches that are not monitored. People must avoid risky behaviour. We are doing everything we can to protect citizens but this is only possible with the cooperation and compliance of beach goers.”
He added: “I know beach concessionaries warn people as do lifeguards but people continue to risk their own lives. There are beaches with cordoned-off areas to deter people but yet they choose to ignore the restrictions. On the day of the incident at Vau beach, just moments after it happened, people were still standing or sitting too close to the cliffs.
“We cannot change people’s attitude unless we restrict full access to beaches at risk of rock falls.”
Controlled demolitions
A spokesman from the ARH told the Algarve Resident: “Several risk areas on beaches in the Algarve were identified and several interventions through controlled demolition in potentially dangerous cliffs were carried out.
“However, it was considered unnecessary to carry out any work at Vau beach. There are parts of that cliff that may fall but these are posing no danger to beach goers. People must respect the warning signs and avoid going to areas of risk.
“There are warning signs on this particular beach and there was a sign on the cliff in question, which was destroyed by the action of the sea this winter. A new sign was due to be put up before the start of the bathing season.”
He added: “We are developing an awareness campaign directed at beach goers. In the first stage, we will be delivering leaflets to alert people to the dangers of the cliffs.
“The bathing areas are safe if people respect the information placed on beaches. If people have any doubts about safety, they should contact the beach concessionary responsible or the lifeguards, who will provide all the information available.”
In addition to the leaflets, the ARH is developing other strategies, which are currently still under discussion.
Do you have a view on this story? Please email Editor Inês Lopes at ines.lopes@theresidentgroup.com
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