Collapsing Buildings in Florianopolis

Buildings constructed close to the beaches on the Atlantic coast of Florianopolis have been collapsing onto the sand this past week. The high post-cyclone waves of March that washed away the top layer of sand left flat beaches behind, with subsequent high waves eroding dunes and vegatation behind beaches such as Armação and Barra da Lagoa. Houses, bars and even a Lifeguard Tower have fallen, with the army called in to help protect other threatened houses.

Previous high post-cyclone waves washed away much of the top layer of sand from the beaches on the Atlantic side of the island. With up to 2 or 3 metres of sand removed from the back of the beaches, the resulting flatter sands were no impediment to further huge waves. Gradual erosion led to the collapse of the beachfront dunes and vegatation, the restinga. With many buildings also being built on top of the restinga, waves also washed away the sand from underneath their concrete foundations over a period of weeks and months.

Very heavy rains and high seas on 18/19 March led to the final erosion and the subsequent collapse of the houses of Armação and the tower at Barra da Lagoa.As yet, no clean up operation has taken place with the exercito concentrating their efforts on using sandbags and rocks to prevent more erosion. Go Floripa should point out that beaches protected by vegetation are protected by environment laws, and construction within 200m of the shore is supposed to be illegal.