Wall collapses onto popular beach in Gran Canaria

A section of a retaining wall along the promenade overlooking La Laja beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has collapsed onto the sand, following months of warnings from beachgoers about its deteriorating condition.

The wall gave way at the beginning of this week, sending part of the structure crashing onto the beach below. Fortunately, nobody was in the immediate area at the time, and no injuries have been reported.

Residents and regular beachgoers in the Cono Sur area of the city had repeatedly raised concerns about the wall, calling for repairs before a serious accident occurred.

Following the collapse, staff from the city's Coastal Department (Ciudad del Mar) cordoned off the affected section of the promenade to prevent people from entering the area.

The department has also notified the City Council's Urban Planning Department and Spain's Coastal Authority (Costas), which is responsible for maintenance at this part of the beach.

Second collapse in six months

This is not the first time the wall has given way. Another section collapsed during the early hours of 4th April, raising further concerns about the safety of the structure.

According to the Coastal Department, both the Urban Planning Department and the Coastal Authority had previously been informed about the wall's condition.

However, despite these warnings, the preventative repairs that had been requested were not carried out before the latest collapse.

The affected section of the promenade remains cordoned off, and no date has been announced for repairs or reopening.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of the popular coastal walkway, particularly as sections of the ageing structure continue to deteriorate.