Sinkhole prompts emergency works on El Portús seafront to stop erosion and protect homes

Following storm damage, erosion at El Portús has continued to worsen, leading to a sinkhole and prompting emergency works along the seafront

The local council in Cartagena is moving forward with emergency repairs in El Portús, where erosion beneath the seafront promenade has become a significant concern. A growing sinkhole has developed under the walkway, creating a potential risk to the structural safety of both the promenade and the houses built nearby.

While the eastern side of the beach was repaired following an emergency intervention in 2025, the western section was left for a later date. Unfortunately, the condition of this area has worsened over the last few months, making immediate action necessary.

The problems originally began after a particularly violent storm in March 2024, which caused a lot of damage along the coast. At the time, the force of the sea collapsed parts of the wall separating the beach from the walkway and caused sections of the path to sink. Although some maintenance was done back then, the constant pressure from the waves and rainwater has continued to wash away the soil and stone underneath the surface.

This has left empty pockets in the ground, leading to the cracks and instability visible today. The damage has also reached the local infrastructure, as the water pipes running beneath the ground were damaged and required temporary repairs to keep the supply running to the town.

Strengthening the foundations and sea defences

To fix the issue properly, the repair team will use a few different methods to make the area solid and safe again. Workers will first fence off the site and dig down to find solid ground before beginning any construction. To prevent the problem from returning, engineers plan to build two reinforced concrete walls.

One of these will act as a shield against the sea to stop waves from undermining the path, while the other will be positioned to shore up the ground near the residential buildings. This is an important step because the shifting soil has put extra pressure on the foundations of these homes, and the new walls will provide the necessary support to keep them secure.

Because this area is part of a protected maritime zone, the local council is coordinating closely with the Costas office, which is the national department in Spain responsible for managing and protecting the coastline. While there are discussions about a more permanent way to improve the sea defences, those larger upgrades will take longer to finalise due to the necessary environmental permits and approvals. 

In the meantime, this project is focused on the immediate goal of stopping the erosion and making the area safe for residents. The work is expected to be finished in about three weeks once the construction teams are on-site.

Read also: Storm-damaged Mazarrón beaches get an urgent makeover

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena