Cause of the spill is still unknown
The beaches of Cabanas Velhas and Boca do Rio, located in Vila do Bispo, Algarve, have reopened for swimming following an oil spill that had temporarily forced their closure. The source of the spill remains unidentified, according to local authorities.
Cabanas Velhas beach reopened on Tuesday, October 15, and Boca do Rio followed suit on Wednesday morning, said Hugo da Guia, captain of Lagos port.
“After a manual cleanup was carried out, we confirmed that the two beaches were clear of any source of population, leading the regional health delegate to lift the ban,” the captain told Lusa news agency.
Meanwhile, the beach of Martinhal – where swimming was also forbidden on Monday – remains closed as cleanup efforts continue. Heavy machinery is being used there to remove remaining traces of oil, as manual methods proved insufficient, the port captain explained. These efforts are being carried out by a specialised company contracted by the Vila do Bispo municipality.
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
