A popular touristbeachinLanzarotehas been temporarily closed to swimmers after tests detectedhigh levels of faecal contaminationin its waters. According to Public Health officials, elevated levels of intestinal enterococci (Enterococcus faecalis) were found at the smallPlaya Blancatown beach on the popularCanary Island.
These bacteria, which normally inhabit the human and animal gastrointestinal tracts and can cause infections such asUTIs, are also used as indicator organisms to assesswater qualityand, at the levels recorded in Lanzarote, represent a "risk to people's health". The Yaiza Council in the south of the island announced on Tuesday (February 24) that bathing is now prohibited, with the ban in place "at least until the results of new laboratory analyses are known within the next 48 hours".
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Local authorities are urging both residents and visitors to respect the closure while municipal technicians investigate the cause of the contamination. PublicHealthteams are also continuing to take water samples and carry out further analysis to monitor the situation, reportedCanarian Weekly.
Playa Blanca town beach, also known as Playa Blanca, is a small, central, golden-sandy cove known for its calm waters andBlue Flag status. It is found right in the heart of the resort along the main promenade and is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and shops.
For holidaymakers hoping to enjoy a beach day in the area with temperatures finally reaching the high-teens and low-20s, the council has advised that alternative beaches remain open, including those within the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches, as well asPlaya Doradaand Playa Flamingo.
This beach closure follows a broken pipeline thatreleased sewageinto the sea at Platja Petita in Cala Millor,Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. The incident was reported on Monday afternoon (February 23) after local residents raised alarms about large amounts of wastewater overflowing onto the promenade and reaching the sea.
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"This morning, the company responsible for the canalisation works along the promenade managed to bring the situation under control and stop the discharge," council member Pep Servera Leno said, according to theMajorca Daily Bulletin. However, as the spillage continued throughout the night, the affected beach area will also remain closed to the public for the next few days.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
