HOLIDAYMAKERS are being turned away from a favourite island beach – following a wince-inducing discovery.
Visitors have been told to avoid Ibiza’s Playa Es Pinet, after the cove’s water was found to contain faecal matter.
discoveribiza.com“Faecal contamination” has seen bathing outlawed at this bustling Spanish beach[/caption]
According to local media, the amount of unsavoury material in the beach’s surrounding sea “exceeded” approved safety levels.
And the contaminated coastline even posed a risk of E. Coli and intestinal Enterococcus bacteria, the local Department of the Environment said.
E. Coli is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning and even serious infection.
While Enterococcus bacteria can cause fever, headaches, vomiting, and other unpleasant symptoms.
The infected beach, in Sant Josep, in the southwest of the Spanish island, is now warding off bathers with a red flag while further tests on the water are carried out.
The unappealing incident follows the closure of another popular Spanish beach, in the port city of Alicante, last month – after bacteria of “faecal origin” was discovered.
In a statement, the Sant Josep City Council assured visitors it performs weekly quality checks on the Es Pinet water.
The note added: “Within 48 hours the data of the second sample will be known, but for now the beach is closed to bathing.”
The latest beach shutdown follows a string of holiday warnings, as a heatwave cooks much of Europe.
French health officials this week told beachgoers to beware a lung-busting toxic algae, which has surged in growth in the hot weather.
Authorities raised the alarm on the creeping menace when they reported an outbreak of the algae in Biarritz, southwest France.
And the country’s National Health Security Agency said swimmers, surfers and other beach users had reported nausea, fatigue and infected eyes.
Meanwhile, experts across Europe have told holidaymakers to keep off the booze and stay hydrated in the more than 40C heat.
But many Benidorm Brits have proved reluctant to heed the warning – with recent snaps showing revellers going about their cocktail-filled days in the Spanish party town.
