Red flags raised as tourists warned against swimming in Benalmadena

Tourists visiting the Costa del Sol face a stark warning: do not enter the water at top beaches. Swimmers who recently took a dip in the sea suffered mysterious skin reactions that left them upset. Holidaymakers and locals were ordered to stay out of the waves at four specific spots in Benalmadena, a popular holiday resort where the sun usually shines bright.

Around 20 people reported skin problems yesterday. This happened just one day after four beaches in nearby Malaga closed their doors to bathers. The closure followed sewage and stormwater discharges caused by a surprise summer storm that hit in the early hours of Saturday morning. Three of those Malaga beaches reopened yesterday, but Benalmadena Town Hall has not yet updated its advice following emergency water quality tests.

Santa Ana Beach became the first site to hoist a red flag shortly after midday yesterday. The ban on bathing spread quickly. Within minutes, officials made the same decision at three other beaches in the resort: Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, and Los Melilleros. The cause of these skin reactions remains unclear this morning because water contamination tests have not been made public yet.

A local council spokesman issued a direct message. Benalmádena maintains the red flag and the swimming ban at several points along its coastline. He explained that the beaches of Santa Ana, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, and Los Melilleros still display red flags, meaning swimming is strictly prohibited. The Town Hall asks beachgoers to respect the signage and follow instructions from safety and rescue services at all times.

Not every danger comes from sewage or unknown chemicals. A yellow warning flag went up at two other beaches in Benalmadena for a different reason: jellyfish. Another local press report highlighted that some bathers suffered reactions near a stretch of coastline where a major spill occurred last year due to a ruptured pipeline. Council officials hoisted a yellow flag as a warning during that incident in May, and the sea turned a disgusting brown colour then too.

Clean-up work is still going on at San Andres Beach in Malaga yesterday. This meant a red flag remained up there following its Saturday closure after the surprise summer storm. The other three Malaga beaches affected got back to normal yesterday, but caution remains high until officials release more data.