The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands has activated the Territorial Emergency Plan for Civil Protection (PLATECA) in an alert situation due to a marine pollution incident affecting the coastline between Telde and Mogán. The decision was made at 19:00 PM after the presence of decomposing organic matter from aquaculture facilities was confirmed in the sea.
The warning applies to the municipalities of Telde, Agüimes, Ingenio, Santa LucÃa de Tirajana, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán, with the aim of monitoring the evolution of the phenomenon, coordinating resources between administrations and minimize any impact on public health and the marine environmentSeveral beaches maintain restrictions on swimming as a preventative measure while inspections continue.
Scope and extent of the episode
The alert is triggered by the presence of a dumping of decomposing organic matter Initially located off the coast of Telde, the storm has moved southeast and south of Gran Canaria in recent days. The municipalities and the Island Council are working in coordination with the regional government to to precisely delimit the affected areas.
According to available information, the currents and the trade winds would have favored the advance of the material towards different areas of the coastline. This dynamic behavior explains why the phenomenon, initially contained, has reached coastal stretches of several municipalities, forcing an expansion of surveillance and control measures.
Affected beaches and preventative measures
The local councils have adopted Temporary closures of bathing areas on beaches such as Melenara, Salinetas, Vargas, Las Burras and San AgustÃnAmong other things, these measures are preventative. The priority is to ensure water quality and reduce user exposure while on-site verifications continue.
Following further Public Health inspections, it was recommended the temporary closure of Salinetas due to the surface presence of organic remainsMeanwhile, in Melenara, technicians noted a positive trend. If the parameters remain stable, the beach could reopen for swimming soon, always at the discretion of the health authorities.
What do the official analyses say?
The Telde City Council has published the results of exhaustive controls on the outfall pipe and the municipal sanitation network that They rule out the existence of chemical spills and anomalous concentrations of heavy metals.These facilities, the City Council emphasizes, undergo periodic analysis and daily monitoring at the Aguas de Telde plant.
Two independent samples taken on October 15 and 16, analyzed in a specialized laboratory, reflect values ​​within the usual parameters and they coincide with records from previous months. The available data point to an organic origin for the episode, with no evidence of industrial pollution within the municipality.
Initial investigations link the phenomenon to waste linked to offshore aquaculture activitiesOff the coast of Telde. The hypothesis being considered is that it contains animal feed and decomposing organic matter, while further tests and oceanographic monitoring with technical support are completed to model the drift.
Monitoring and devices on the coast
With PLATECA in force, the regional government assumes inter-administrative coordination To centralize information, prioritize resources, and unify criteria, regular technical and political meetings are held to evaluate analyses, guide cleanup efforts, and adjust coastal protection measures.
Maritime Rescue maintains active surveillance over a stain detected between ArguineguÃn and the Maspalomas lighthouseThe Salvamar Macondo vessel and a Sasemar aircraft are monitoring and taking samples to assess the evolution of the episode, in order to limit the environmental impact and protect the most sensitive areas of the southeast and south of the island.
Recommendations to citizens
The authorities ask Respect the closures and red flags and avoid swimming at the affected beaches until further notice. It is recommended to consult the official channels of the town halls, the Island Council and the Government of the Canary Islands before going to the coast and call 112 if significant accumulations or changes are observed in the water.
In the maritime sector, recreational and professional vessels are urged to navigate with caution. Keep your distance from areas with debris and do not handle any materials found on the surface. The Maritime Authority and emergency services will update instructions as the work progresses and new analytical results become available.
The alert remains active while monitoring of the spill continues. organic origin linked to aquaculture facilitiesThe combination of negative chemical test results, preventative closures, and the deployment of surveillance resources allows for a more confident approach to the coming hours, with possible occasional reopenings if the parameters remain at adequate levels.
