After four years closed due to the presence of potentially carcinogenic substances, the Litoral Beach in Sant Adrià de Besòs reopened last summer following three decontamination operations costing nearly 1.8 million euros. The latest interventions reached 80 centimeters deep, the threshold where contaminants are located, according to the report by the Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC).
The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) confirmed that the easterly storm brought by Harry caused “very serious damage” to metropolitan beaches, with waves reaching six meters in Badalona. This major episode, not seen since Storm Glòria (January 2020), resulted in significant sand loss and the arrival of tons of debris.
“"It was predictable. Then they call us alarmists. It is happening and we all see it. The sea has left an evident bite on the beach. Could the contaminated layer that was about 80 centimeters deep have been exposed?"
Specifically at Litoral Beach, the force of the sea has eroded a significant amount of sand, exposing less superficial layers. Entities like La Marea Verde de Sant Adrià have alerted authorities to the possibility that heavy metals located below 80 centimeters may have resurfaced. Authorities must now await sand analyses to determine if the bathing area remains safe.
