Nine beaches shut by oil pollution

Marseille has closed nine beaches after a huge rainstorm washed oil and debris off the streets and into the sea

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NINE beaches have been closed at Marseille after storms dropped more than a month’s worth of rain in an hour and left them heavily polluted.

The beaches at Huveaune, Borély, Bonnevein, Vieille Chapelle, Prado nord, Prado sud, Pointe rouge, Catalans and Goudes were closed by the mayor because of oil pollution.

The oil had been washed off streets and from drains when 55mm of rain fell.

Hygiene and public health official Françoise Gaunet said council engineers had been keeping an eye on a slick which was being pushed to the south by currents and they would decide today whether the beaches could be reopened.

Beaches at Prophètes, the Calanques, Frioul, Lave and Fortin are still open.

Photo: Ville de Marseille

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