A sewage spill has been detected on a beach in Malaga following the severe storms of last weekend.
As a result, the City Council has advised residents and visitors to avoid swimming in the sea off the affected zone, named as Guadalmar beach.
It comes after two sewage pipes were damaged during the severe flooding of the Guadalhorce River.
According to a statement, the surge in the river’s flow – following torrential rainfall that triggered a red weather alert from AEMET – undermined one of the structural supports holding the sanitation pipelines above the riverbed, close to the coastal path footbridge.
The erosion caused a section of the supporting structure and pipes, estimated at around 50 metres in length, to collapse into the river.
Emergency measures activated
Once the incident was detected early on Tuesday morning, the municipal water company Emasa immediately shut down the Guadalmar pumping station to halt the accidental discharge of wastewater.
The damaged pipes had been carrying sewage from the Churriana district and Torremolinos, which was temporarily flowing directly into the river.
In line with Andalucian environmental regulations, pumping was stopped to minimise environmental impact, while remaining discharge was redirected offshore through an underwater outfall extending 475 metres into the sea.
Beach closure under review
As a preventive health measure, authorities are advising against bathing at Guadalmar beach. The incident has been formally reported to the Junta de Andalucia.
Water quality tests are currently being carried out. Any official decision to close the beach will be taken by the regional authorities, based on the results of those analyses.
Emasa engineers are assessing the damage and working on a rapid solution.
City officials stressed that the recommendation to avoid swimming is purely precautionary, but urged the public to follow guidance until water quality is fully confirmed as safe.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
