Papagayo Beach in Lanzarote has been temporarily closed, and swimming is prohibited following an accident involving a lorry that may have caused a spill in the area.
The incident occurred on Thursday (10th July), when a lorry responsible for emptying wastewater tanks at a local restaurant lost control and became stuck on the access road to the popular beach. In addition to posing an immediate safety hazard, authorities warn that the accident may have resulted in a potential discharge of waste.
Emergency services, including Local Police and Civil Protection from Yaiza, the Guardia Civil, Seprona (the environmental branch of the Guardia Civil), and Firefighters, were quickly on the scene.
They evacuated bathers from the beach, closed all access points and the car park, and cordoned off the affected area. Meanwhile, clean-up operations began to minimise any environmental impact.
Specialists from the Yaiza Town Council and Public Health officials from the Government of the Canary Islands collected water and sand samples for laboratory analysis. However, the test results are not expected until Monday (14th July). As a precaution, the beach will remain closed, and swimming is strictly forbidden until further notice.
The Yaiza Town Council has appealed for prudence and cooperation from both residents and tourists. They urge everyone to respect the safety signage in place and recommend visiting other beaches in the municipality while Papagayo remains off-limits.
