Full coverage is expected again by Monday… but until then, extra precautions are recommended
The Algarve’s well-documented struggles to hire enough lifeguards to man its beaches during the summer are currently affecting Portimão’s Praia da Rocha, faced with a “temporary reduction in the number of lifeguards on duty”. This prompted the National Maritime Authority (AMN) to launch a warning on Tuesday, advising beachgoers to be particularly careful when swimming at the beach in the coming days.
The disruption is being addressed through a joint effort between local beach concessionaires and the municipal council of Portimão, who are responsible for ensuring adequate lifeguard coverage on supervised beaches.
On Tuesday, eight lifeguards were on duty at the beach, a number which was due to increase as the week progressed. By Monday, full coverage is expected again, AMN says. For now, support is being provided by the “SeaWatch” program, which has deployed a Portuguese Navy vehicle (Amarok) with two service members, along with a vehicle from Portimão’s Municipal Civil Protection Service, staffed by two emergency personnel.
In the meantime, the Maritime Authority is urging the public to take extra precautions and follow these safety guidelines:
- Avoid swimming in unsupervised areas and stay close to lifeguards.
- Pay attention to beach signage and follow the instructions of lifeguards and authorities.
- Constantly supervise children and the elderly, even in calm waters.
- Refrain from risky behaviours such as diving near rocks, swimming in rough seas, or straying far from the shore.
- In case of emergency, call 112 immediately.
