Storm Therese Damages Arona Promenade; Council Seeks Urgent Repairs

Storm Therese has once again exposed the vulnerability of Arona’s coastline, causing significant damage to the Los Tarajales promenade in Los Cristianos. The force of the waves collapsed sections of the retaining wall and damaged the beach, prompting the City Council to launch an urgent repair plan.

The local government—a coalition of the PP, CC, and Vox—is currently drafting the necessary repair project. Mayor Fátima Lemes stated that the priority is public safety, as the damaged infrastructure currently poses a clear risk to pedestrians. However, progress is slowed by regional bureaucracy; because the area is classified as maritime-terrestrial public domain, the Councilor for Works and Infrastructure, Héctor Reyes, noted that all repairs must first be approved by the Canary Islands' General Directorate of Coasts.

This incident highlights the ongoing struggle to maintain coastal infrastructure in Arona. The area has required frequent investment, including a 500,000-euro project in 2023 to replace parts of the wall and railing. This followed a major 1.5-million-euro renovation in 2020, which improved the wall and pedestrian access along the 265-meter stretch of Avenida Juan Alfonso Batista.

The City Council is now working to balance the need for immediate safety repairs with strict coastal regulations. While officials are pushing for an emergency declaration to speed up the process, they emphasize the need for a coordinated response to restore this sensitive area, which remains constantly exposed to the Atlantic’s unpredictable weather.