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ARCHIVED - Malaga hiking trail Caminito del Rey to reopen after a three-day closure due to landslides
A team of 15 specialists have spent the last three days repairing the high-altitude walkway at the popular tourist attraction in Andalucia
One of Malaga's most popular tourists attractions, the Caminito del Rey hiking trail, is set to reopen today (Friday December 16) after a three-day closure due to landslides caused by heavy rainfall.
Andalucia has been feeling the force of heavy downpours and strong winds recently, and the trail's high-altitude walkway fell victim to the adverse weather shortly after 11pm on Monday.
According to specialists from the company which manages the Caminito, the main problem wasn't the fact large stones and mud fell directly onto a 20-metre stretch of the suspended walkway, but that the debris fell on the opposite wall causing extensive damage because the passage is so narrow at that point.
They also pointed out that protective netting has been installed along the route where landslides or rockfalls are more likely.
In an attempt to reopen the aerial path in Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Natural Park, located in the Malaga municipalities of Álora, Ardales and Antequera, as quickly as possible, a team of 15 specialists was drafted in on Tuesday to carry out emergency repairs.
In addition, two dozen members of the Caminito staff were on hand to help clean up and remove rubble, as well as keep a close eye on the landslide area.This is the second time the Caminito del Rey, also known as the King's Path, has closed in less than a week. The attraction was shut last Thursday and Friday due to the risk of heavy rainfall.
Anyone who bought tickets has been refunded.
Although the trail is expected to reopen today, the number of visitors will initially be reduced to 50% (from 1,100 to 550), and the route will be shortened by 500 metres.
"The Caminito will reopen on Friday with a circular route that will begin and end at the southern access of the Paraje, in the El Chorro neighborhood. This is a temporary fix that will be maintained until full repairs of the damage caused by the landslides to a section of the wooden walkway in the north access are carried out," explained President of the Diputación de Málaga, Francis Salado on Thursday.
The Caminito del Rey aerial path is built into the walls of the gorge, 3 kilometres long and barely one metre wide. One of the mst infamous parts is the cantilever, a footbridge 105 metres above the ground. This enclave, which was known as the most dangerous path in the world before its restoration, was opened to the public in March 2015 following works carried out by the Diputación de Málaga.
Images: Caminito del Rey
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