The collapse of a section of cliff at Careanos beach, Portimão, on Tuesday, was the 18th registered collapse along the western Algarve coast since the bad weather began, according to the Portuguese Environment Agency.The agency should know, as it is responsible for monitoring the cliffs along the Algarve all year round. This routine monitoring work turns into emergency clearing up when large sections of cliff start to fall into the sea, due to poor weather conditions.
"During the period of the storm between February 28th and March 6th, 18 cliffs suffered rock falls. These were in the municipalities of Albufeira, Lagoa and Portimão. The collapse on Tuesday at Careanos beach was the 18th and was the largest collapse so far with around 200 cubic meters of debris," says the agency.
There will be a "routine of observation and registration," of the cliffs until May, to see if it is necessary to destroy more cliff tops that the APA deems are at risk of collapse.
In addition to scraping away rocks that have been there for tens of millions of years, the APA says it will improve signage that warns people of rock fall and associated dangers.
The APA says that the cliffs are "naturally unstable" and people should "avoid lying under them or walking along the cliff-tops, particularly during bad weather,” although this has always been the case.
On Monday, the National Maritime Authority advised the public to stay away from cliffs and the beaches below cliffs, "because stability could have been affected by bad weather."
This warning was issued for the whole country and the islands, “but in particular the southern Algarve coast."
