La Misericordia, Campo de Golf-San Julián, Sacaba, San Andrés, Guadalmar, and El Palo in Malaga capital, along with Las Gaviotas and Santa Ana in Benalmadena, are flying the red flag. The restrictions occur during peak season and coincide with the Malaga Fair, raising concerns among hoteliers about tourist satisfaction.
In Malaga city, several temporary closures were initially due to storm runoff. However, analyses by the Municipal Water Company (Emasa) confirmed the presence of the E. coli bacteria above the recommended threshold on the beaches of La Misericordia, Campo de Golf-San Julián, Sacaba, San Andrés, Guadalmar, and El Palo, triggering the warning protocol.
In Benalmadena, Las Gaviotas and Santa Ana beaches remain temporarily closed after several bathers reported skin rashes. Health services from the Junta de Andalucía are conducting analyses to determine the causes, which could be biological or chemical. The beaches of Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, and Los Melilleros have since reopened.
The Association of Hotel Business Owners of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) fears these closures will negatively impact the tourist image and visitor experience. Socialist spokesperson Mariano Ruiz Araujo described the situation as "absolutely disastrous" and called on the City Council to provide a diagnosis of the causes.
