The beaches of a popular Spanish destination have been covered in an orange clay-like substance, leaving locals furious and tourists baffled.
Marbella’s city council intentionally put this on the beach in an attempt to strengthen the shore following powerful storms earlier in the year.
Many locals are unhappy with the result, claiming it is harder to wash out of clothes and skin. The council has so far dunmped 600,000 cubic metres of an orange-tinted sand on the city’s shores.
With time, the council expect the colour of the sand to fade, it said that the orange stands out because people are not used to seeing the colour on the beach.
In mid-June, around 300 people took to the streets to protest with concerns being raised about the contents and appearance of the substance.
Local journalist Juan Carlos Angulo shared images of the substance on the beach.
In a post, translated from Spanish, Hhe said: “In case we don’t have enough seaweed, chocolate on the Fontanilla beach in Marbella in mid-July, there is now also orange-red sand.”
Fears were also raised that this may have a negative impact on the tourism of the area with holiday-makers generating a large amount of income for the city each year.
Marbella is located in the province of Málaga, which is part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in Spain. An estimated five million tourists visit each year after the city, with the island now known for its luxury resorts and nightlife.
There are 15 Michelin-star restaurants in the city which reflects the vibrant culinary life of Marbella. Some of the most popular choices for dining are Skina, Lobito de Mar and Messina.
Beaches in Marbella have been commended with the ‘blue flag’ as a recognition of cleanliness, safety and high quality amenities so it is hoped that they will soon be back to normal.