Garachico (Tenerife), 18 (Europa Press)
The Cabildo de Tenerife and Garachico’s City Council have urged the Directorate of Coast and Middle Central of the Central Government to explore the feasibility of constructing an external dam to mitigate the damage caused by coastal occurrences.
This was brought to light by the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, alongside the mayor, José Heriberto González, during a visit on Tuesday to assess the destruction wrought along the coast, particularly on Adolfo Suárez Avenue. The Minister of Roads, Dámaso Arteaga, and the Insular Director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, were also present during this assessment.
Rosa Dávila, president of the Insular Corporation, articulated that “in this area of Garachico, it is a common occurrence for the sea to surpass the coastline and road, and at times even encroach upon the town itself. Over time, measures have been implemented to contain this on the land side.”
She further explained that “the current proposal is to seek funding for a feasibility study on the construction of an external dam that could help mitigate the sea’s force in this region of Garachico. It would serve as a breakwater that, although it may be overtopped, can contain the force of the waves, thereby preventing damage when the sea reaches this area.”
In her view, “similar interventions have been successfully carried out in other locations, such as San Andrés.”
Dávila expressed that “when coastal phenomena occur, there is a risk posed to people, vehicles, homes, and possessions. The aim of this external containment structure would be to minimise that risk and prevent damage to the coastline as much as possible.”
In that context, waves reaching up to nine metres were recorded on Monday, which impacted some of the furnishings located on Adolfo Suárez Avenue in Garachico.
Regarding the coastal conditions elsewhere on the island, Rosa Dávila stated that since the Canary Islands government issued the alert, they have been coordinating with all municipalities to deploy preventative measures.
“The municipalities responded by hoisting red flags on the beaches and restricting public access to coastal areas. Fortunately, incidents have been minimal,” she remarked.
José Heriberto González, the mayor, asserted that “action must be taken to prevent damage.”
He elaborated that “we have implemented measures on land to ensure that furniture is not easily displaced and that buildings are secured to prevent sea ingress, but I believe we require action from the sea as well.”
The mayor believes “this is an opportune time” to act in light of the effects of climate change.
“Forecasts indicate that sea levels will continue to rise in the upcoming years, and theoretically, maritime storms will be more severe than those currently experienced. We must safeguard both people and property, especially considering we are dealing with a significant historical area in Tenerife affected by the sea,” explained José Heriberto González.
Closure of Adolfo Suárez Avenue
The Minister of Roads, Dámaso Arteaga, pointed out that the primary issues arose on Adolfo Suárez Avenue, which serves as a principal route on the island.
“From the early hours of today, we have been conducting clean-up operations, and it is now in excellent condition. However, we will maintain its closure due to the forecast of high tides around noon. The road will remain closed until approximately seven in the evening, and its reopening will depend on the evolving situation,” he stated.
Iván Martín, the Insular Director of Security and Emergencies, mentioned that since the Canary Islands government enacted the alert for coastal phenomena and flood risk, they have been in contact with the municipalities.
“In total, the waves have impacted 18 municipalities, causing minimal damage, aside from some railings. The most severely affected area has been Garachico, which has experienced damage to several fences and the wall adjacent to the avenue,” he reported.
