Speaking to Lusa, the port captain and local commander of the Lagos Maritime Police, Hugo da Guia, said that “the area was properly signposted, with access to the site of the landslide being prohibited”.

The collapse, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, “moved a significant volume of sediment”, destroying access to the staircase to Praia do Pinhão, located between the beaches of Dona Ana dos Estudantes and Pinhão.

The alert was given to the maritime authorities by a member of the public on the morning of the same day, said the official.

According to Hugo da Guia, Maritime Police will intensify daily patrolling of the location, “in order to make people aware of the danger and ensure the safety of those who pass by”.


“People are always curious to go and take photographs, but it is important to remember that anyone who passes through, or stays in the closed area, may be subject to an administrative offence”.

Hugo da Guia added that access to the Pinhão staircase “was not impeded, but there were signs at the site warning of the risk” of collapse.

The captain of the port of Lagos warned of the risk of people accessing the site due to the instability of the cliff, noting that “a small movement of debris was recorded in the same area last night”.

The collapse of part of the cliff in Pinhão was reported to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), an entity that monitors the cliffs along the Portuguese coast.

Lusa contacted APA to obtain further clarification on what happened, but so far has not received a response.