Swimming has been temporarily banned off Playa de la Gola beach in La Manga del Mar Menor and Playa Paraíso beach in Cartagena, following recent water quality tests conducted by municipal authorities. Red flags were raised at these locations on Wednesday, 30 July, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of holidaymakers.

Cartagena City Council has reported that, so far, they have not detected any incidents in the sewage and sanitation network that could be linked to the water quality issues. However, technicians are investigating the possibility that a recent easterly storm may have dragged ‘maritime discharges’ into the Mar Menor through the La Gola channel from the Mediterranean Sea. This follows a similar situation from the previous week, which led to the temporary closure of several beaches facing the Mediterranean.

In a statement, Cartagena City Council explained that water quality analyses are conducted daily in all bathing areas to safeguard public health. They also highlighted that the scientific process required to assess water quality takes approximately forty-eight hours. The analyses in question correspond to a water sample taken on 28 July.

The reopening of the affected beaches will depend on the results of future water tests. Authorities are committed to providing updates as further information becomes available.