Albufeira alone has 24 beaches with cliffs at risk of collapse but holidaymakers appear not to be taking the warnings seriously.
According to the Portuguese Environment Agency, and just five years after the horrific accident Maria Luisa beach (pictured) in Albufeira in which five people died and three were injured, the dangers are still lurking with 24 high risk areas identified.
The Agency lists on its website those Algarve beaches whose cliffs are at risk, many of them with rocky shores that are permanently or periodically exposed to waves, others where new fissures have appeared and have yet to be addressed.
The municipality of Albufeira has the most problem areas with a total of 24 beaches, followed by Lagoa with 17, then Vila do Bispo (11), Portimão (9), Lagos (7) Lagos (5) and Silves (2).
The Portuguese Navy said that people behave in two ways even after the 2009 accident at Maria Luisa beach, "there are those who are aware and sensitive to the dangers, and those that are totally indifferent."
According to the Ministry of the Environment 30% of the country´s 845 kilometre coastilne is affected by coastal erosion.
Three years after the fatal accident in Albufeira, the Government decided that many beaches and cliffs should have limited access and increased fines for beach goers, especially those accompanied by children, using prohibited areas.
Fines can range from €30 to €100 euros if people are caught using a prohibited area.
Comments
HOW TYPICAL PORTUGAL IS THIS: toiurism is an extremely important factor in Portugal's GBP. In stead of improving the tourist infrastructure (in casu the protection and the accessibility of the beaches) authorities only "put signs" and always "more signs" and at the same time they raise the fines ! In other words: once again the Portugese do THE CONTRARY of what logically should be done. Or they do what Tourismus de Faro boss did so well this week: whining and whining... (or do you prefer the word "lamentating?) and that's it, isn't it ?