The southern beaches of Valencia, previously closed due to an oil spill, have reopened to the public. El Saler, l’Arbre del Gos, and Garrofera beaches are accessible again, but swimming remains prohibited for now.
Despite the reopening, cleanup operations continue, with workers ensuring no hydrocarbon residues remain along the coastline. The emergency services confirmed yesterday that the sea is free from pollutants after removing 35 cubic metres of waste and cleaning approximately 2,800 metres of shoreline.
Awaiting water test results
While visual inspections are positive, the final decision on water safety awaits the results of ongoing water analyses. Authorities are conducting comprehensive inspections to ensure no lingering contaminants are present in the sand or on the sea surface. The national authorities have reduced the Maritime Plan to phase 0, and the Generalitat has downgraded the Territorial Emergency Plan to level 0.
Investigation underway
The cause of the oil spill remains under investigation. Maritime authorities are examining ships that passed through the area before the spill was detected by the European Maritime Safety Agency’s Sentinel 1 satellite. The spill, stretching nearly 3 kilometres, was detected at 8.02 am, half a mile off the coast, prompting the activation of emergency protocols.
Potential weekend swimming reopening
Carlos Mazón, President of the Generalitat, stated that the beaches might reopen for swimming by the weekend, depending on the results of ongoing tests and inspections. Preliminary analyses suggest the spill originated from ship fuel.
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