One of the main tourist attractions in Itajaí, on the northern coast of SC, is sinking. The last part of the South Mole, known as the “cabezo”, gives way and this area created a crater that had to be covered.

The structure is sinking – Photo: Mystery Costa/ND

The space is used by tourists and locals for family outings and physical activity, especially on weekends. However, access to the last section of the pier is no longer possible.

The site, operated by the Port of Itajaí, was recently isolated due to problems with the asphalt. Juscelino Sora, General Director of the Port of Itajaí, explains that the process of flooding over the years is natural and already predictable.

Cabeço do Molle Sul is closed – Video: Mystery Costa/North Dakota

“Every wave that comes here finds a pier where all the energy found in this place is dissipated. Naturally, it has been repressed in the last decade, that is, it has sank over time. All the material underneath, consisting of sand, will be carried away by the resulting underwater current. The rocks that are there on top, in this case, also, in turn, sink, and the tetrapods, which are the upper parts, known as “crow’s feet,” also move,” he clarifies.

Juscelino says the port has been monitoring the situation for more than a decade and maintenance work will now need to be carried out at the site. At the end of last year, a basic service project was created at a cost of about 1.5 million reais.

A crater has opened up at the site – Mystery Costa/North Dakota

This place is used by residents and tourists for walks and sports – Taina Costa/North Dakota

The Mole will be renovated with funds from Porto

The process is now ready to go out to tender as soon as the port authority decides it is possible. However, the estimated cost of the work must be adjusted and, most likely, will exceed last year’s estimate.

However, due to the current situation at the Port, work must be suspended until further notice. The General Director of Engineering made it secret that the work is not an emergency, so they can wait for a tender.

“This budget comes from the port authority, where it uses its own resources from the revenue it generates. At the moment, since the traffic in the Itajaí complex in the port of Itajaí is currently weak, we are waiting for the restoration of the new port operator in zone A, where, as soon as it starts operating and when our resources are restored, we can continue this work,” concludes He.

*According to NDTV reporter Taina Costa.