Based on the actions of the Maritime Police of the Albufeira Post and the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Albufeira, together with the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)/Administration of the Hydrographic Region (ARH) of the Algarve, there was a “preliminary assessment” that detected "signs of imminent collapse", explained the same source in information sent to Lusa News Agency.

“During the preliminary assessment carried out by the APA/ARH of the Algarve, signs of imminent collapse were detected, namely open cracks”, said the source from the captaincy of Portimão, who has jurisdiction in the Albufeira area, anticipating work to carry out the demolition in a controlled manner.

The same source underlined that, although the beach at stake “is not a bathing beach”, there were about 30 bathers, some foreigners, who followed very well the instructions” from the authorities to leave the area.

“Due to a precautionary measure, the prohibition of the beach was determined, and access to the sand and surroundings, by land and sea, was prohibited”, said the source of the captaincy.

The Algarve cliffs are regularly monitored by APA technicians, through the regional ARH, and are often the target of controlled demolition actions in areas considered to be at risk of imminent collapse.

These actions are carried out during the year, with greater incidence in the period before the bathing season, and are aimed at preventing incidents such as what happened in August 2009 at Maria Luísa beach, also in Albufeira, when the unexpected collapse of a cliff caused the death of five people.

The beach at Ninho das Andorinhas is located in the Sesmarias area, in Albufeira, in the district of Faro, and is made up of a small sand of difficult access, surrounded by cliffs on all sides, except one, where the sea is.