The destruction of long sections of clifftop in Praia da Luz and Porto de Mos, Lagos, 'aims to avoid future landslides,' according to the Portuguese Environmental Agency which is carrying out various ‘controlled collapses’ at the top of the landmark cliffs.
A 'controlled collapse' is agency-speak for using a JCB at the cliff top to scrape away loose areas of rock.
"The cliffs are a natural geological feature brought about by erosion by the sea. Their evolution is characterized by frequent rockfalls and collapses that constitute a hazard," explained the regional director of the Portuguese Environment Agency, Sebastião Teixeira.
Controlled collapses also are taking place at Porto de Mos and the two kilometre project will, "help the work left unfinished by nature" and minimise risks to all beach users.
"In practice what we are doing is anticipating their collapse, bringing down unstable parts to try and give the cliffs a more solid profile," said Teixeira.
Warnings are still in operation and users should be aware that any cliff can shed rocks and that the danger of natural landslides is always present. Locations where there is a higher possibility of rockfalls are marked to enable everyone to enjoy the beaches as safely as possible.
In August 2009 a section of cliff collapsed, killing five people at the Maria Luisa beach in Albufeira despite signs warning of the risk of landslides.
Authorities in Portugal insisted that little could have been done to prevent the tragedy and a spokesman from Civil Protection reported that warning signs had been in place for more than 18 months when the dangerous state of the clffs was first detected and follow-up checks has been carried out to assess the risks.
