Portions of Panama City Beach will temporarily close next week to “enhance public safety during spring break,” the city council recently announced.

The beach will be closed along South Pier Park Drive from L.C. Hilton Drive to Front Beach Road starting at 5 a.m. on March 12 and running through 5 a.m. on April 13.

“If left unchecked it just gets out of control, and has the potential to go south quick,” James Smeby, captain of the field services division, told WJHG.

“If something goes wrong the crowd scatters like roaches and you can’t see 20 feet down the beach because it’s dark.”

Smeby told the outlet spring break is a “huge public safety concern” for the area.

“It takes an enormous amount of resources to police it ... a lot of equipment, light towers, camera trailers, you name it we have to put it down there,” he said.

“It’s just a huge strain on resources.”

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Unaccompanied minors are not allowed in designated high-impact areas between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. and no alcohol is allowed on the beach from March 1 to March 31, according to the city.

Visitors have been advised to use caution when traveling in the area.

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