Vélez-Málaga deploys drones, rescue dogs, and 49 lifeguards to secure its 22 kilometers of coastline

The City Council of Vélez-Málaga has officially activated this Monday, June 1st, its lifesaving, surveillance, and assistance service on beaches for the summer season. The plan, which will be operational until September 30, will comprehensively cover the 22 kilometers of the municipality's coastline. The First Deputy Mayor, Jesús Pérez Atencia, and the Councilor for Beaches, David Vilches, have presented the details of a deployment that seeks to consolidate the Vélez coast as a benchmark in safety, accessibility, and tourism.

The service will operate daily from 12:00 to 20:00 hours, although during the peak months (July and August) it will start at 10:30 hours in the busiest coastal areas. During periods of high tourist pressure, the operation will have up to 49 lifeguards working simultaneously. To cover the entire maritime strip, the plan keeps 19 fixed towers and 9 reinforcement points operational, ensuring presence in places like Chilches, Benajarafe Station, the Almayate area, and the Río Seco zone.

In terms of technology and material resources, Vélez-Málaga continues to lead with the consolidation of the use of rescue drones as support for aerial surveillance tasks. The equipment is completed with an ambulance, two all-terrain vehicles, two semi-rigid boats, two jet skis, and updated medical supplies. Additionally, the municipality maintains its six beaches adapted for people with reduced mobility—equipped with amphibious chairs and specialized personnel—and the unique canine lifeguard service at the dog beach in Torre del Mar.

Both Pérez Atencia and Vilches have reiterated that investment in the coastline is crucial as it is the local "economic engine," but they have also made a strong call for civic responsibility. Local authorities have emphasized that the success of this deployment depends on beachgoers strictly respecting the flag colors, following the lifeguards' instructions, and taking extra precautions with children to prevent incidents on the sand or in the sea until next September 30.