An eagle-eyed tourist prevented tragedy this week by sounding the alert over a crack in the cliffs between two Portimão beaches.
The crack could easily have led to a cliff collapse – causing the kind of injuries that hit the headlines in August five years ago, when an entire family was killed under falling rocks further down the coast in Albufeira.
Keen to avoid any kind of repeat horror during the busy summer season, authorities moved in promptly on Thursday, cordoning off the danger areas between Praia do Vau and dos Careanos before sending a JCB earthmover in to send them insecure rocks hurtling down towards the beach.
The initiative brought the dangers of parking towels and sunshades too close to overhanging rocks very much home to the watching crowds of holidaymakers.
It’s a practice constantly being warned against – with many beaches already advising visitors of the perils of lying too close to cliffs.
Portugal’s APA/ ARH environment agency led Thursday’s emergency operation and used the opportunity to effect another “controlled cliff fall” in Alvor, near the À Babuja restaurant.
