Alert in Las Grutas. A landslide occurred in an area of cliffs.

SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE.- A major landslide occurred this week on the cliffs of Las Grutas beach resort, less than 200 meters from one of the stairways leading to the beach. Although the municipality of San Antonio had been carrying out scheduled landslide work in different areas of the cliffs in recent days (this is a fundamental preventive measure to reduce risks in an area with natural ground movements), it is believed that the latest landslides were due to extraordinary tides. The planned collapses “allow us to anticipate possible landslides and act before they pose a danger,” according to the municipality. These tasks are carried out in sites considered critical, which are also very popular with tourists. "This time, the unexpected landslide—which occurred between the descent from Los Acantilados and La Rinconada—took place in an area that is not very popular with vacationers. Nevertheless, the incident caused concern ahead of the summer season, and the authorities reminded visitors and locals of the importance of keeping their distance from the cliff area. "There are warning signs in place, and every summer, with the arrival of thousands of tourists, recommendations not to camp near the cliffs are reinforced to prevent possible incidents. "Tourists and residents are reminded that, as they are within the Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area, vehicles are prohibited from driving on dunes and beaches. Every year, dozens of cliff collapses are recorded on different beaches in Río Negro as a result of a natural process caused by sea erosion and winds,“ warned the provincial government. They added: ”It is essential to take the necessary measures to avoid accidents when vacationing in beach areas where this type of collapse can occur. When deciding where to spend the day at the beach, it is important to consult and take into account the tide table at the tourist offices or on the official website. It is also important to pay attention to the recommendations of the lifeguards and the information they have about what is happening on the beach." In the Las Grutas area, cliff collapses are frequent. As explained by experts from Conicet, the town “is bordered by cliffs composed of soft, easily erodible sedimentary rocks that show signs of current erosion, such as large caverns or caves and blocks that are often found fallen at their base.” They added that waves are the main factor in cliff erosion. The marine impact varies along the coastline of the resort: in the central sector, the tide covers a large part of the cliff front on a daily basis. In addition to natural factors, anthropogenic factors often come into play, such as buildings located near or embedded in the top of a cliff.