The rescue took place after the vessel they were on capsized for unknown reasons, announced the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

Some of the people on the maritime tourist vessel have minor injuries, the AMN said in a statement, adding that the operation to remove the group from the cave was coordinated by the Ferragudo Lifesaving Station team.

"Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that two of the victims had minor injuries, and the crew of the Lifesaving Station coordinated the rescue, with the support of local kayakers and operators of maritime-tourist vessels in the region," reported the AMN, which received the alert from locals at 3:24 pm on 23 May.

The Maritime Authority said that the rescued people were taken to the Portimão Marina, where the Volunteer Firefighters and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) will “provide specialised assistance”.

The AMN stressed that “the owner of the vessel was notified to proceed with its removal, as it constitutes a danger to navigation”, and announced that the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão, which was in charge of the incident, will “initiate a maritime accident investigation, in order to ascertain the circumstances” of the incident.

In addition to the crew of the Ferragudo Lifesaving Station, elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão, the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Portimão and INEM also participated in the operation.

Preventive measures

Located off the coast of Benagil beach, the caves are considered a significant natural heritage site and one of the main tourist attractions of the Algarve, attracting more and more visitors, especially by sea.

To avoid incidents due to the intensive and disorderly visitation that occurred at certain times of the year, the local authorities approved an access regulation that includes a ban on disembarking and swimming in the interior, which came into effect in August 2024.

The regulation aims to regulate the traffic of maritime-tourist vessels, private individuals and beach users, both on the water surface and in the vicinity of the Benagil cave and sinkhole, and to prohibit disembarking or using the sandy area inside the Benagil sinkhole by individuals and companies, access to the caves by swimming or with auxiliary flotation devices, and the rental of kayaks without a guide in the cave area.