Six beaches in Malaga city have been closed to swimmers after tests detected elevated levels of E. coli in the water.
Red flags have been raised at Campo de Golf-San Julian, Guadalmar, La Misericordia, Sacaba, San Andres and El Palo after samples taken on Sunday showed concentrations above permitted levels.
Malaga City Council said swimming will remain prohibited at the six beaches while further tests are carried out over the coming days.
The results showed a temporary concentration of E. coli above the optimal levels established under Spain’s regulations governing the quality of bathing water.
The council said the contamination is believed to be linked to discharges caused by the storms that struck Malaga in the early hours of August 15.
Authorities have activated their warning protocol and raised red flags at the affected beaches as a precaution to protect public health.
The beaches will only be reopened once subsequent testing shows E. coli levels have fallen sufficiently.
Four of the six beaches – Campo de Golf-San Julian, La Misericordia, Sacaba and San Andres – had already been placed under precautionary warnings on Saturday following discharges into the sea after the storm.
At the time, municipal water company Emasa described the incidents as ‘brief and low-volume discharges’.
Those four beaches were not initially closed, but bathers were advised to stay out of the water while cleaning crews removed debris and other material washed into the sea.
Green flags were restored at San Julian, La Misericordia and Sacaba on Sunday before the latest water-quality results prompted the new closures.
The latest incident comes after Malaga’s beaches were hit by another E. coli scare last month, when swimming was temporarily prohibited at Pedregalejo and El Palo after excessive levels of the bacteria were detected.
Meanwhile, four beaches in nearby Benalmadena were also closed as a precaution on Sunday after around 20 bathers reportedly suffered skin reactions.
Red flags were raised at Las Gaviotas, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel and Los Melilleros while authorities investigate a possible contamination incident.
The closures mean a total of 10 beaches across Malaga city and Benalmadena are currently affected by precautionary swimming restrictions.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
