Oeiras, Portugal, April 17, 2025 (Lusa) — The Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos (ISN) is beginning to step up its surveillance of inland beaches today in view of the Easter holidays, anticipating an increase in bathing at a time when the official season has not yet begun. This reinforcement of mainland beach surveillance, as part of the "Praia Segura 2025" project, already includes 14 "Volkswagen Amarok" vehicles equipped for rescue and two "ID.Buzz" vehicles for logistical support in rescue and aid, which were formally handed over to the ISN on Thursday by SIVA, as part of the company's social responsibility. In total, by the 2025 bathing season, the Maritime Authority will have 36 vehicles equipped for surveillance and rescue (34 Amarok and two ID.Buzz). According to the director of the ISN, Captain Jorge Lourenço Gorricha, the vehicles "will allow us to operationalise resources over the next 10 days, when it is expected", despite the unstable weather, that in many areas of the country there will be "some influx of bathers" due to the Easter holidays and the following long weekend. He added that the resources will be deployed mainly in areas of the Centre and South, where various indicators suggest that there may be a greater influx of bathers. The official warned that bathers should avoid risky behaviour, since the sea is still wintry and poses dangers that are not perceived by the public. The bathing season generally takes place between 1 June and 30 September, and all means are employed in surveillance and rescue. Despite the unstable weather, this year has already seen sunny days when the beaches have been full of holidaymakers. In terms of incidents, the worst day was 8 April, with a total of 45 incidents involving 50 people, the most serious of which resulted in the death of a 16-year-old in Costa de Caparica, Almada. RCS/ADB // ADB. Lusa