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Swimming banned on several La Manga beaches after sewage spill from ship this Monday
Several kilometres of shoreline in La Manga are off-limits while health checks are carried out on the water quality
A sewage spill from a ship has led to the closure of several kilometres of beach along the Mediterranean side of La Manga del Mar Menor this Monday July 21.
Red flags were raised all along the shore early this morning, banning bathing at numerous beaches, as health and environmental authorities assess the extent of the contamination.
The spill was not caused by any failure in the local sewage system, which remains fully operational, but by a vessel that discharged waste directly into the sea.
The incident comes less than 24 hours after an incident in the same area involving a boat’s propellor left a 9-year-old boy in intensive care.
San Javier Town Hall confirmed that the pollution had prompted lifeguards to tell swimmers to get out of the water immediately and prevent further access to the affected areas.
From vantage points along La Manga, the contaminated waters were clearly visible as a sort of “brown cloud” moving slowly through the sea.
This mass of waste has now stretched across an estimated 5 to 7 kilometres of coastline, forcing closures at beaches including the Pirámide del Galán, Playa del Banco del Tabal and El Pedrucho.
San Javier council has reported the incident to the regional ministry for Public Health, which will carry out water quality analyses to determine when it is safe to reopen the beaches.
While there is no confirmed timeline, officials are working to restore access as soon as possible.
The origin of the vessel responsible for the spill has not been disclosed, and investigations may follow depending on the outcome of the environmental assessment.
