T e n e r i f e ’ s f a v o u r i t e b r i t i s h w e e k ly n e w s p a p e r Issue 719 2 September - 8 September 2011
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Freak weather causes chaos on beaches
Waves of havoc
HUNDREDS of sunbathers were forced to flee from beaches all along the south and south-east coasts earlier this week when abnormal high tides caused chaos. There was severe flooding at Las Galletas, where the pavement to El Fraile alongside the harbour beach was awash with shingle and sand, as was the walkway along the main front. And at El Medano, where the beach and small coves had been teeming with tourists and residents enjoying the last few days of the school holidays, the fierce tide deposited tons of seaweed and obliterated the area. It was an astonishing sight at the
popular tourist resort, as our picture shows, but determined sunbathers stuck it out right to the end, until the advancing mass of seaweed finally squeezed them off the beach. Despite the rough sea and huge waves, however, bathers still splashed about in the water, and some even managed to swim out way beyond the beach. The Los Cristianos beach was rapidly cleared as the tide advanced, and sunbathers on the beaches at Playa de Las Americas suffered the same fate. Most of the damage in the South was caused by rock and sand movements on beaches and nearby walkways, as was demonstrated at Las Galletas, in the Arona municipality, which was the worsthit town of all.
But having overcome Monday’s initial flooding there, Arona officials are now discussing a project with the Costas to design a flood-proof promenade in the seaside resort. Along the east coast in Arico, where the damage was not particularly severe, there were still some debris problems in such areas as Las Arenas and Tajao while the beach at Las Maretas was affected, as well as several roads in the area. The high water in Tajao caused a curious phenomenon because one ravine, which had been dry for years, suddenly filled with seawater. In the town of Fasnia, just below Candelaria, the main concerns were centered on the Bay apartments, where structural damage to the foundations may have been caused. Fasnia Mayor Damian Perez Viera,
who plans to hold a meeting with the Costas, said: “The rough seas in recent days might have caused some sinking after last year’s damage.” Further up the coast, Guimar officials have already taken the first steps to repair their storm damage, which included sand, stones and rubbish being deposited. Wooden walkways and some walls were also affected. In the North, residents of the San Andres fishing village in Las Teresitas, beyond Santa Cruz, were hit by severe flooding, with water rising up to three metres in places. Villagers had to lay sandbags outside their doors to safeguard their homes from flooding for the second time in three months. The shock flooding and subsequent damage came as a result of the
combination of poor swell with high tides, caused by the coincidental astronomical positions of the earth, new moon and the sun. Even before all the tidal drama, there was tragedy in Tenerife when a 50-year-old man from Tenerife, Luis Morales, was swept overboard during a sailing regatta which started by the San Miguel Marina on Saturday. The Emergency Services combed the entire area - from the Red Rock to Playa de Las Americas - for eight hours, with two helicopters taking it in turns, the Guardia Civil boat and the rescue launch, but to no avail. The hunt was called off as night fell, but it resumed in the morning until it became obvious to the searchers that here was little hope for the unfortunate sailor.