Landslide Shuts TF-421 in Garachico; Mayor Demands Extended Safety Closure
A landslide on Sunday afternoon shut down a section of the TF-421 road connecting Garachico and San Pedro, with the mayor advocating for an extended closure to ensure safety due to unstable ground.
A significant landslide has shut down a section of the TF-421 road, specifically the part connecting Garachico town center to the San Pedro neighborhood. The collapse happened on Sunday afternoon, around 6:00 PM, near two houses and before the Arrastradero bends.
While the Island Council's Roads Department is already clearing the debris, the local mayor, José Heriberto González, wants the road to stay closed. He insists it shouldn't reopen until it's fully cleared and other nearby rocks are checked for stability. "I will push for it to remain closed until we can guarantee greater safety; we need to see if other stones can be removed before something similar happens again," he explained.
This area has very steep slopes and a lot of sand, a result of the 1706 volcanic eruption in Garachico. Lava flowed down these mountains, leaving behind unstable material that often falls onto the road. González noted that only a small amount of rain fell over the weekend, yet a landslide still occurred. "The stones around there worry us because from below, they look like they might be loose," he warned.
The TF-421 is a secondary road that goes from Garachico to El Tanque. It's important for residents as it connects them to the south of the island via the island ring road. This particular landslide happened on a less-used part of the road, mainly by the just over one hundred people living in the San Pedro neighborhood.
If the Council agrees with the mayor and closes the road for an extended period, residents won't be cut off. However, they will have to take a longer route to reach the town center. The alternative for both drivers and pedestrians will be the route known as "carretera del cordobés," which goes through the Las Cruces neighborhood.
González mentioned that during a volcanic eruption drill on September 26, it was noted that roads in this region wouldn't withstand earthquakes. "Unlike other, more solid areas like Teno, this ground is quite unstable because, geologically speaking, the lava flowed very recently. Roads like this have their dangers, and the best thing is to try to reduce them," he concluded.