The awareness-raising actions, which began on July 5 and lasts until August 25, takes place two days a week, from 9:30am to 11:30am, as part of the program “Enjoy the beach safely! Collaborate for their protection”, said the Algarve municipality.

The objective is to raise awareness among bathers “about the danger of the cliffs” on “25 beaches in the municipality”, added the Algarve municipality in a statement.

Cliff rock falls on Algarve beaches is a natural process, which occurs mainly in winter, but can also happen during the summer, similar to what happened in August 2009, on Maria Luísa beach, causing the death of five people.

Although the environmental authorities promote monitoring of the Algarve coast and carry out technical interventions on the ground to anticipate the fall of cliffs in areas where risk is identified, these incidents can happen without prior notice and the action of the Albufeira Chamber aims to ensure that “bathers are informed about the main dangers” of the proximity of the cliffs.

“It is extremely important that we ensure the safety of everyone who visits our beaches”, said the mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, stressing the importance of “keeping away from the top or bottom of the cliffs” and ensuring that the hazard signs found in hazardous locations are complied with.