Cartagena beaches closed after sea suddenly retreats from La Manga coastline
Swimming has been banned from La Manga to El Portús as Civil Protection monitors an unusual change in sea level
The sea has suddenly pulled back by several metres along parts of the Mediterranean coastline in La Manga, prompting Cartagena City Council to take the unusual step of putting all Mediterranean beaches in the municipality under a red flag.
For anyone familiar with the coast, seeing the sea suddenly disappear from the shoreline is bound to cause a fair bit of concern. In fact, the sight of water retreating from a beach is something commonly associated with tsunamis, so it’s understandable if some people have wondered whether something more serious is happening.
However, the council has described the move as a precautionary measure and explained that its experts believe the unusual change in sea level could be linked to tidal patterns. At present, officials say there is no objective information pointing to another cause.
Even so, they aren’t taking any chances.Mayor Noelia Arroyo has ordered the red flag to be raised on all Mediterranean beaches in the municipality, covering the coastline from La Manga and Cabo de Palos through to La Azohía and El Portús.
Swimming is prohibited while the red flag is flying, but the advice goes further than that. Civil Protection is also asking people to stay away from the coastline and avoid walking along seafront promenades because the water could return suddenly.
That last point is likely to be the one that catches people's attention. A rapid withdrawal of the sea can be a warning sign of a tsunami, but it can also happen for other reasons, including normal tidal changes and variations in sea level caused by atmospheric and local conditions.
There is currently no indication from Cartagena City Council that a tsunami has been detected or that one is expected. The authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have been coordinating with the Civil Protection service of the Region of Murcia.For anyone on the coast today, the advice is therefore fairly straightforward: don’t go into the water and, for now, keep away from the shoreline.
The council says it will provide further updates through its official channels as the situation develops, which you can consult here.
Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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