Sydney, Australia, Oct 18 (EFE).- Several beaches in Sydney, including Bondi, one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, reopened on Friday after being closed for 24 hours due to the appearance of thousands of tar balls of unknown origin that still affect four beaches in the city.
A deserted beach is seen at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, 18 October 2024. Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east closed following the discovery of mysterious tar balls washed ashore along the beach. EFE-EPA/BIANCA DE MARCHI NO ARCHIVING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
“All Waverley Beaches have reopened following a site inspection. No remaining evidence of the reported debris can be located on Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches,” Waverley Council, of the suburb in the east of Sydney and where the beaches are located, said in a statement.
A deserted beach is seen at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, 18 October 2024. Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east closed following the discovery of mysterious tar balls washed ashore along the beach. EFE-EPA/BIANCA DE MARCHI NO ARCHIVING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
“The safety of our community is always paramount. Working with Government authorities, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep the community updated and safe,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said.
However, four beaches in the neighboring suburb, Randwick, remain closed, including Coogee, where the mysterious tar balls, whose size ranges from a tennis ball to a marble, were first detected on Tuesday.
According to Randwick council, preliminary tests show that the balls are a hydrocarbon-based pollutant, consistent with the composition of tar balls.
The Environmental Protection Authority of New South Wales state, whose capital is Sydney, said in a statement on Thursday that it was “conducting extensive testing on a number of samples.”
“At this stage, the origin and contents of the balls remains a mystery,” it added.
Environmental organizations have warned of the danger that these pollution incidents pose to marine wildlife.
There are more than 100 beaches in Sydney that attract millions of tourists and locals every year. EFE
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