Four beaches along the popular Costa del Sol tourist destination of Benalmadena have been closed to swimmers due to an outbreak of mysterious skin reactions among beachgoers. Red flags, signaling a prohibition on bathing, were raised at Santa Ana, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, and Los Melilleros beaches. The closures came after approximately 20 people reported experiencing skin problems after entering the sea on Sunday.
Water Quality Concerns
The exact cause of the skin reactions remains unconfirmed as water quality test results have not yet been publicly released. Local authorities have stated that the red flags will remain in place and urged the public to adhere to safety signage and instructions from rescue services. Meanwhile, two other Benalmadena beaches flew yellow warning flags due to the presence of jellyfish.
This situation follows similar incidents in nearby Malaga, where four beaches were temporarily closed to bathing on Saturday. These closures were attributed to sewage and stormwater discharges resulting from a sudden storm. While three of the Malaga beaches have since reopened, clean-up operations continued at San Andres Beach, which remained under a red flag.
One local report noted that the skin reactions occurred near a coastal area where a significant pipeline rupture led to a spill last year, causing the sea to turn a brown color. At that time, council officials had raised a yellow warning flag.