[ad_1]
“With the closure of the pedestrian access to the Lighthouse and a strengthening of the action of the Maritime Police, PSP and elements of the camera, duly identified, the crowd was able to disperse,” Porto da Nazaré commander Zeferino Henriques told Lusa. , ensuring that, in the early afternoon, “fewer people were found on the cliffs.”
The concentration of thousands of people near the S. Miguel Arcanjo Lighthouse and on the cliffs next to Praia do Norte was discussed, then, in recent days, the possibility of the fourth and on Thursday giant waves are formed.
As has happened in recent years, the presence of Portuguese and international surfers attracted thousands of people to the area, calling into question, on the one hand, individual safety, given the dangerousness of the cliffs, and, on the other another, compliance with the containment rules of the covid-19 pandemic.
The Captaincy of the Port of Nazaré committed in Praia do Norte all the means of the Lifeguard Station (help at sea) of the Maritime Police, to act on land, and also had the reinforcement of the PSP, firefighters, protection civil and a private maritime tourism company that supports surfers.
“Shortly after 10:00, it was decided to block the Farol road from pedestrian traffic and the presence of the authorities of the members of the Chamber, among the popular ones, was intensified in order to force them to wear a mask and keep their distance social, achieving if this increases the security conditions ”, explained Zeferino Henriques.
Simultaneously, strong calls were made, in multiple languages, for the standards to be met.
The decrease in the height of the waves, throughout the day, “also contributed to many people leaving the place, since the surfers were leaving the water,” explained the same person in charge.
The municipality and local authorities had previously determined the closure of Forte de S. Miguel to the public and conditioned the traffic on the access road to the site.
Monday is the start of the waiting period for the giant wave season, during which surfers from various countries gather in Nazaré waiting for the sea to meet the ideal conditions to face the waves of Praia do Norte.
Until then, the local authority and local authorities should meet and publicize measures to avoid public gathering.
