With the aim of permanently blocking access to the dangerous point of the sea caves in the Cape Greco national forest park, the Department of Forests of the Ministry of Agriculture informed the public that it has proceeded with the installation of a temporary fence in the area. As announced, this intervention constitutes an immediate measure to address the dangerous activity of diving from the rocks, which in the recent past has resulted in serious accidents that have placed at immediate risk the safety and physical integrity both of visitors attempting dives and of members of rescue crews called to intervene.
At the same time, the installation of the temporary fence aims to ensure the protection of the geomorphology of the area, which shows indications of instability, with the goal of preventing possible collapses and avoiding the concentration of visitors in dangerous spots.
The implementation of this measure was carried out in cooperation with the competent state services, including the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the Geological Survey Department, the Department of Environment and the Fire Service, within the framework of decisions taken in meetings in order to protect human life and the natural environment.
“The public is called upon to comply with the instructions and with the signage placed in the area and to avoid activities that put personal safety at risk,” the Department of Forests notes in its announcement, adding that it will continue to monitor the situation and to take, in cooperation with the competent authorities, the necessary measures within the framework of a holistic approach to the protection and promotion of the entire area of Cape Greco.
It is recalled that diving in the sea caves of Cape Greco has, from time to time, caused serious injuries. The risks that make this specific point extremely dangerous are related to insufficient depth, as the seawater in certain spots is much shallower than it appears from above, resulting in the risk of impact with rocks, to the underwater currents that develop around the cave and make exiting the water difficult, as well as to hidden reefs, since there are rocks that are not visible on the surface.
