The mayors of Granadilla de Abona and Arico in the south of Tenerife have issued statements to residents and holidaymakers warning of ‘unidentified’ waste along the coast and on the beaches in the municipalities, with one banning swimming in the sea, and the other advising against it until it is known if it is harmful to humans.
The ‘deposits’ have generated concern in both councils hence the precautionary measures to guarantee the health of bathers.
In the case of the Granadilla Council, Mayor Jennifer Miranda announced that bathing is banned along the municipal coastline. This decision is based on the presence of a deposit in the sea that has moved from the neighbouring municipality of Arico towards Granadilla beaches.
The measure will remain in force until the analysis results of the samples taken yesterday (August 8th) are obtained, so that they can determine exactly what they are and if they are a danger to health.
Although it is suspected that the deposit is a natural phenomenon that affects other areas of the island, the authorities have opted for caution and have raised the red flag as a warning sign along the coast.
Miranda stressed that the safety and well-being of citizens and visitors are her priority and that they will remain vigilant in the face of any change in the situation. Once the results have been received a decision will be made accordingly about the use of the beaches.
The Arico Council issued a ‘preventive recommendation’ to avoid bathing on the coast due to the presence of microalgae at various points on the coastline. Although this phenomenon is not unusual in the region, the authorities have decided to issue a warning to bathers to avoid unnecessary risks.
Microalgae, identifiable by abnormal changes in the colour of the water, have been detected in several coastal areas, which led Mayor Olivia Delgado to advise against bathing in those affected areas.
The mayoress emphasized that some samples have been taken today on different beaches in the municipality for analysis, with the aim of confirming the presence of microalgae and ruling out risks to public health. The council will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates on the state of the beaches as new information becomes available.
