Storms bring new dangers to Fonte da Telha beach – lifeguards

Four months after a series of powerful winter storms battered Portugal’s coastline, lifeguards at Fonte da Telha are warning that the sea is no longer behaving as it once did.

The alert comes after 12 rescues were carried out between the final week of May and June 11 at the popular Almada beach, a figure local lifeguards say is highly unusual.

Located on the Atlantic coast south of Lisbon, around 20 kilometres from the city centre, Fonte da Telha is one of the most popular beaches in the area and has long been regarded as a relatively safe destination for swimmers and families. But this no longer seems to be the case.

Speaking to Lusa news agency, Armando Abelho, coordinator of the Âncora Lifeguard Association, said the storms had dramatically altered both the seabed and surrounding coastline.

“The bad weather that hit Portugal this winter profoundly altered the seabed and the entire coastline, from Fonte da Telha to the mouth of the lagoon,” he said. “I used to know it like the palm of my hand, but I can no longer say that today.”

According to Abelho, two permanent rip currents have formed in locations where they did not previously exist, creating new risks for swimmers and contributing to the recent rise in rescues.

“From the last week of May until June 11, we carried out 12 rescues. That simply didn’t happen during the previous four seasons because Fonte da Telha was always considered a calm beach and a reference point for safety,” he said.

The warning comes as Portugal enters the peak summer season, with thousands of beachgoers expected to visit the Costa da Caparica coastline in the coming weeks.

Lifeguards are urging bathers to pay close attention to safety advice, warning flags and instructions from beach authorities, particularly in areas where underwater conditions may have changed since previous summers.

Abelho also highlighted concerns over traffic congestion and uncontrolled parking in Fonte da Telha, saying emergency vehicles can sometimes struggle to reach incidents because of blocked access routes.

“As I usually say, yesterday was already too late,” he remarked when asked about plans to regulate traffic in the area.

In May, Almada municipal council announced measures aimed at improving access and safety, including new parking areas in Aroeira, a shuttle service to the beach, improved traffic management and a system that will restrict vehicle access when parking capacity is reached.

The lifeguard coordinator also warned of a shortage of lifeguards ahead of the summer season – an issue affecting beaches across the country – and described 2026 as one of the most difficult years in recent memory for recruitment.

“We’ve had to manage the situation very carefully because we still need to guarantee staffing levels, but it hasn’t been easy,” he said.

While the association traditionally relies on Portuguese lifeguards, it has increasingly turned to professionals from Brazil and Argentina to help fill gaps.

Source: LUSA