Authorities have closed four beaches on the Costa del Sol to swimmers after numerous individuals reported experiencing mysterious skin reactions after entering the sea. The popular resort town of Benalmadena has hoisted red flags at Santa Ana, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, and Los Melilleros beaches, prohibiting any sea access.
The exact cause of the skin irritations remains unclear, as results from emergency water quality tests have not yet been publicly released. A local council spokesperson confirmed that the red flags remain in place and urged beachgoers to heed the warnings and follow the instructions of safety and rescue services.
This development follows a similar incident on Saturday, where four beaches in nearby Malaga were temporarily closed due to sewage and stormwater discharges following a severe storm. While three of the Malaga beaches have since reopened, clean-up work at San Andres Beach meant its red flag remained in place on Sunday.
While the Benalmadena beach closures are attributed to the mysterious skin reactions, a yellow warning flag was also raised at two other beaches in the resort due to the presence of jellyfish. One local report noted that the affected area in Benalmadena is near a section of coastline where a significant pipeline rupture occurred last year, leading to a spill that turned the sea a "disgusting brown color."