Praia da Calada, in Mafra, should not open to the public during the next summer season due to the risk associated with the instability of the cliff. According to , the decision was made by the president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), who explained that the current situation does not allow guaranteeing minimum safety conditions for those who frequent that location.
The announcement comes after analyzing the impacts caused by the bad weather that hit the coast of São Paulo between October 2025 and the first days of this month. According to the same source, the report presented by APA assesses the damage caused by various meteorological episodes and defines a set of interventions aimed at recovering the coast.
Unstable cliff prevents beach from opening
During the presentation of the document, José Pimenta Machado explained that the situation in Praia da Calada raises serious concerns. The official stated that “this year, there will be no beach at Calada. The cliff is unstable, people and property need to be protected.”
The APA president also added that “this year, there are no conditions for having a beach here”, indicating that the priority is to guarantee safety before allowing public access to the sand.
Access and security issues
The instability of the cliff is cited as the main factor that led to the decision to suspend bathing use. According to the same source, the risk is not limited only to the possibility of landslides, but also to the difficulty in guaranteeing safe access to the beach area.
José Pimenta Machado reinforced this concern by explaining that “there are no conditions to guarantee both access to the beach and the stabilization of that cliff”. According to the same source, this situation requires access to be kept suspended, at least during this summer.
Report highlights damage in the coastal area
The report presented by APA identified several problems at the site. According to the same publication, in addition to the instability of the cliff, damage was recorded to coastal protection structures installed in that area of the coast.
It is also known that other beaches in the same municipality show similar signs of geological instability, although it was not possible to anticipate whether they could also be closed during the summer season.
Storms left a trail of destruction
The damage analyzed in the report results from a period of adverse weather conditions that affected the country for several weeks. According to the same source, the mainland was hit by successive depressions that caused significant damage in different regions.
The storms, identified as Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, were associated with episodes of floods, floods and destruction of infrastructure. The damage extended to homes, businesses and public facilities.
Human and material impact
The storms also had serious human consequences. According to SIC Notícias, at least 19 people have died in Portugal since the end of January following these meteorological phenomena. According to the same source, more than half of the fatalities occurred during recovery work following damage caused by storms. Additionally, there were hundreds of injured, homeless and displaced people, while several regions faced power, water and communications cuts.
Among the areas most affected by meteorological depressions, several regions of the continental territory stand out. According to the same source, the Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley and Alentejo were particularly hit by the effects of the storms. The report presented by APA now seeks to assess the damage and plan interventions to minimize future risks. In the case of Praia da Calada, the priority will be to ensure the stabilization of the cliff before considering any reopening to the public.
Also read:
