The city of Natal decided to prohibit bathers from accessing the rock formations of Ponta do Morcego, located between the beaches of Areia Preta and Praia do Meio, in the East Zone of the capital.
The safety measure was taken after a technical inspection confirmed the risk of landslides in the area, caused by the continuous process of erosion with the advance of the sea.
It is important to emphasize that access to properties and commercial points at the top of Ponta do Morcego remains open and, according to the city hall, without any risk. The prohibition is only for access to the rocky area.
According to the Municipal Department of Environment and Urbanism (Semurb), the ban will come into effect from this Friday (30), with the installation of signage signs. The ministry did not, however, provide any type of punishment for those who do not respect the ban.
The use of the beach for swimming and other activities remains fully permitted, according to the ministry. The restriction is exclusive to the proximity of the rock wall.
According to the Secretary of Environment and Urbanism of Natal (Semurb), Sérgio Pinheiro, the guidance signs aim to prevent bathers from entering dangerous areas.
"The only thing that should be avoided is the bather's proximity to this rock formation to avoid moving any stones or entering caves that may have some type of erosion", explained the secretary.
At the base of the rock formation, the wear caused by the force of the waves opened cavities and caves that advance into the interior of the structure. In some places, what was once a solid wall now has large voids formed by the continuous action of water.
According to geographer José Petronilo, the risk of accidents at the site is imminent.
"This area from the inside is being accessed by water, which is diluting the minerals. Several caves are opening there, which are already increasing. The risk for people who take shelter under these caves is that, at any moment, there could be a landslide and cause an accident", warned the expert.
The situation was subject to joint inspection between the Municipal Department of Environment and Urbanism (Semurb), Civil Defense and the Fire Department.
In addition to the rock assessment, civil engineers inspected the buildings located at the top and around Ponta do Morcego to investigate possible structural impacts.
According to civil engineer Eduardo Nogueira, the properties do not present immediate danger, but the scenario requires preventive interventions in the section.
"At the current time of the inspection, these properties are stable and I can guarantee that they are not at imminent risk. But, if no action is taken, there will naturally be a retreat from the base of the promontory and this will begin to put the buildings at risk", stated the engineer.
The city council said it will continue to monitor the wear of the rock formation over time to assess the impact of the tides and identify definitive containment solutions for the stretch.
