The swimming ban at the beaches of Altura/Alagoa, Praia Verde Lago, and Praia Verde in the Algarve was lifted this Wednesday. The red flag had been raised yesterday afternoon due to microbiological contamination, as announced by the municipality and confirmed by the National Maritime Authority.
Holding jurisdiction over the coast of Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo António port captain João Afonso Martins stated that by approximately 3:10 p.m., the “end of the swimming ban” was declared at Praia Verde, Praia de Alagoa-Altura, and Praia do Verde Lago, a resort complex situated between the other two locations.
In a statement, the Faro district municipality informed that water quality tests conducted on Monday “showed microbiological contamination levels exceeding the reference limit value.”
“Even though no effects were detected, the described situation could potentially pose a health risk to swimmers,” warned the municipality.
After the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) conveyed the information to the municipality at noon, the ban was decreed, with a red flag raised at those beaches.
Today, by 3:10 p.m., the green flag was once again raised at these three beaches in Castro Marim.
Child Rescued Unconscious from the Water
Despite the restriction, yesterday afternoon, a 9-year-old child was rescued unconscious at Altura beach in Castro Marim, Algarve.
A statement from the National Maritime Authority (AMN) disclosed that the child had encountered difficulties in the water.
“Following an alert received around 12:50 p.m., via the lifeguard on duty at the beach, elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ Project, INEM, and the firefighters from Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim were immediately activated,” the statement explains.
Upon arrival, the child “had been promptly rescued from the water by the lifeguard, and the elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ Project initiated resuscitation maneuvers and administered oxygen.”
The child was then transported using an Amarok vehicle to an INEM ambulance, where stabilization occurred and subsequently transferred to a hospital by the firefighters.
