Alex Trelinski
THREE beaches south of Valencia City were closed to bathers on Tuesday after a two kilometre oil slick appeared with some of the spillage landing on the shore.
Five bathers were treated by Cruz Roja lifeguards for having oily stains on their skin and were told to visit a health centre for further analysis.
Red flags barring swimming were raised at 11am at El Saler and l’Abre del Gos beaches with Galoferra beach joining them in the afternoon.
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Yellow flags were imposed at Pinedo, and Devesa beaches due to weather conditions.
The Minister of Justice and Interior, Salome Pradas, appeared at a news conference for a briefing on the situation affecting the Albufera National Park beaches.
“We are acting with total speed in the face of this spill, ” Pradas said.
“In the next few hours we hope to have this spill under control, at least as far as it affects the coast and we convey to all Valencians to stay calm- especially those who live close to the Saler- because we are taking action.”
The minister also recommended that people stay away from the affected areas.
The Water Quality Service of the Valencia Government has taken samples of the spill to identify what it is, though everything indicates it is a fuel-based product.
The General Directorate of Coasts and Maritime Rescue has been combing the Gulf of Valencia to see if there are more spills that could reach the shore.
The spillage happened on a hot day with the beaches already full of visitors during the summer peak season.
Maritime Rescue has activated level 1 of the Maritime Rescue Plan, which happens when an incident of marine pollution of medium magnitude or danger occurs.
The National Maritime Plan is also set to be activated.
Valencia’s Port Authority is monitoring the situation and has confirmed that the spill does not come from any ship anchored off the beaches.
It has offered lorries to transport anti-pollution barriers, but that seems moot as the slick has already reached the sand.
Valencia City Council Firefighters have offered their drones to monitor the area.
The Devesa-El Saler Neighborhood Association has expressed its sadness at what happened while the municipal group of the regional far-left Compromís party wants an investigation.
It also called on the City Council pass on cleaning costs to the Port or the guilty vessel- once identified.
