Top ‘hidden jewel’ beach on holiday island is CLOSED over cliff collapse fears …the third to ban tourists this year
A PICTURESQUE beach on a popular holiday island has been shut following fears that loose rocks might crush tourists.
Benijo beach in Tenerife’s Santa Cruz area, dubbed its “hidden jewel”, has closed in another blow to holidaymakers.
Thousands of tourists flock to the beautiful beach in Taganana despite the strenuous walk to reach it.
The beach opens up to stunning views of the Roques de Anaga rock formations and has been praised for its sunsets.
One tourism website says: “Its sunsets are simply magical, especially when the glimmering sea contrasts with the red horizon and the dark outline of the volcanic rocks rising from the depths of the ocean.”
But Benijo beach has now banned visitors over concerns that the cliff could collapse.
The alarm was raised after a series of small landslides was detected in recent weeks.
The local council fears that a slope surrounding the beach could be unstable as terrifying debris have been spotted falling from above.
Benijo beach will remain closed to the public while the authorities assess the risks.
A statement from Santa Cruz city council confirmed today: “The councillor for citizen security and emergencies, Gladis de León, has signed this morning a decree to close access to Benijo beach due to small landslides that have been observed in recent weeks.
“This preventive measure will also involve monitoring this situation and various technical reports have even been commissioned to evaluate both the risk of this slope and the possible actions necessary.
“The infrastructure department of the city council is already analysing, as a matter of urgency, the first technical measures to solve this problem.”
The situation does not seem to be critical but the authorities said they are implementing the necessary precautionary measures.
Signs will be posted in the access area to the beach to warn all tourists to steer clear of the danger zone.
The council added: “Also the security and emergency personnel, present in the Anaga massif, will carry out these informative tasks for the public, appealing to the responsibility of everyone to avoid unnecessary risks.”
The beach’s closure comes as another blow to holidaymakers after two other popular beaches have recently been restricted.
Last week, a shock warning has been issued at Playa Jardin in the same area indefinitely banning tourists from swimming in the water.
Swimmers were prohibited from dipping their toes in the sea after a contamination report.
Health chiefs informed visitors that they risk catching infections and gastrointestinal diseases if they don’t comply.
Another famous “black sand” beach will remain closed for summer due to horrifying rockfalls that have occurred in its vicinity.
Playa de Los Patos, which attracts thousands of tourists each year with its unusual charcoal black sand, shut down just weeks before the peak of holiday season.
The news came after the beach cliff experienced scary landslides on Christmas Day last year.
A Spanish environmental campaign group has also named and shamed 50 seaside spots with problems, including chemical pollution, marine waste, over-development and sewage discharges.
Meanwhile, Brits heading to the sunny Spain are greeted with an icy reception as locals blast foreigners with water pistols in the latest anti-tourism demos.
The unlucky holidaymakers could be seen getting sprayed while they were enjoying their dinner at the restaurant patio.
Tourists are being unfairly targeted as locals are furious with the cost of living and housing crisis that has reportedly seen home costs rise by 68per cent in the last decade.
Some locals blame the hike in prices on holidaymakers as they rage “drunken” Brits are ruining their hometowns.
Frustrated residents claim they are being pushed out of their neighbourhoods with more properties being converted into AirBnBs and hotels.