Storm Emma has generated a significant loss of sand in Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen, the main one and most used by bathers on the coast of Tías, and in Playa Chica, the other unique cove near the town of La Tiñosa.
The mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, accompanied by the municipal engineer of Public Works and the coordinator of Civil Protection of Tías, visited the coast of Puerto del Carmen this Wednesday to assess and verify the damage caused by the strong southwest waves generated in the coastal area of the main tourist area of Lanzarote, as the storm Emma passed.
In El Muellito, located in the Pila de la Barrilla (next to Playa Chica, near the town of La Tiñosa), damage has been generated to its pavement and stairways. Playa Chica, famous for being one of the great diving destinations in Lanzarote, has been 'swept' of sand. In the years 2014 and 2015, the Department of Beaches of the Tías City Council carried out the transfer of multiple trucks of sand to improve the appearance of this unique cove that rises in an area of fariones (volcanic outcrops) and now in this 2018, devastated by the new southwest storm, the absence of aggregates in the cove is visible again.
Where the loss of sand has been most pressing is on the main and busiest beach on the coast of Puerto del Carmen. During this Wednesday, the landslide of up to 2 meters in height caused by Emma is visible throughout its perimeter. This new storm, with a south-southwest trajectory (which has had more impact on the coast of Tías) has aggravated the loss of natural aggregates in Playa Grande.
The intense waves have allowed the sea to enter the recent bathrooms rehabilitated by the Tías City Council on this beach, which is very frequented by the thousands of tourists who stay in Puerto del Carmen. The force of the sea, in addition to carrying away huge amounts of aggregate, has damaged - with the loss of sand - the base of a section of the promenade where the Tías City Council has scheduled several actions (already awarded after bidding) to improve the breakwater of the Avenida de las Playas.
The force of the tide 'swept away' the solarium installed by the Department of Beaches of Tías, at the end of last summer, in this section of Playa Grande to provide more and better bathing services to people with reduced mobility.
The mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, together with the municipal engineer of Public Works and the coordinator of Civil Protection, toured the entire perimeter of Playa Grande this Wednesday, the last day of February, aggravated by the great loss of sand, causing landslides of sand between 1 and 2 meters high in many sections.
The Department of Beaches of the Tías City Council has installed fences in the affected area as a preventive measure to prevent passers-by and tourists from accessing this area of the beach.
In the coming days, the Tías City Council will more precisely assess all the damage, as the alert for waves and strong winds on the island of Lanzarote is still active, where, according to the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, in the hours of this coming night the force of the wind and the waves that devastate the island of volcanoes may increase.