The Arafo City Council yesterday joined the measures and recommendations of the Candelaria and Güímar consistories in the face of the detection of the presence of hydrocarbons in the water, the origin of which remains unknown, as detailed in the official ruling issued on the 1st of September.
The Consistory has requested the concessionaire company of the contract for the service of conducting bathing water analytics on the beach of Lima and taking samples from the municipal coastline, with the aim of confirming the spill and taking the appropriate measures.
Meanwhile, with a preventive purpose, it maintains the prohibition of bathing in the coastal area until further notice.
The local governments of Candelaria and Güímar were forced to close the beaches of both municipalities on Tuesday after hydrocarbon spills were detected on the coast and the day before that of Santa Cruz in Almáciga and Roque de las Bodegas did.
In the first case, they were only those of Las Caletillas and Puntalarga, but yesterday the closure of all the bathing areas of the municipality was ordered as a preventive measure after detecting the presence of hydrocarbons in the water.
Since the situation became known, bathers were notified and the red flag was raised to warn of the risk. Likewise, samples have been taken by the Department of Health, which were sent to the Canary Islands Government’s Health Inspection and Laboratory Service for analysis. Until knowing the results of the same, the City Council reiterates the prohibition for the bathroom.
Also early Tuesday afternoon, the Güímar City Council reported that it was proceeding to partially close the El Cabezo beach, in Puertito, due to a spill of these substances and immediately the security protocol was activated through the Coordinating Center of Emergencies and Maritime Rescue was mobilized to act in the area.
So far it is the only closed in the municipality despite the fact that yesterday the authorities did not rule out expanding the area if the impact from the spill was greater.
It should be remembered that on July 30, Playa Chica, in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, was also closed to the bathroom after the presence of a stain was detected whose origin has been, so far, unknown.
