Barcelona beaches return to normal after Sant Joan celebration

Cleaning crews removed 70 tons of waste, with few major incidents reported, apart from a knife attack.

Generic image of beach cleaning in Barcelona after a celebration.
IA

Generic image of beach cleaning in Barcelona after a celebration.

Barcelona's beaches regained their usual appearance this morning after 90,000 people celebrated Sant Joan's Eve on the sand, a slightly lower figure than the previous year.

The cleaning operation, which began at 6:30 AM, collected 70 tons of waste. Over 350 people and 135 vehicles participated in the efforts to quickly prepare the beaches after the Guardia Urbana cleared attendees at 6:00 AM.
The Security Lieutenant, Albert Batlle, reported that the night passed without major incidents. The most notable event was a knife attack on Mar Bella beach, where one person sustained a minor back injury. The perpetrator was immediately arrested by the Guardia Urbana. Batlle expressed concern about the size of the confiscated knives, stating they "didn't look like bread knives".

"They didn't look like bread knives."

Albert Batlle · Tinent de Seguretat
Besides this assault, 10 other arrests were made during the celebration. The Emergency Medical Service (SEM) attended to 73 individuals, who were transferred to medical centers without life-threatening conditions, and Barcelona Firefighters responded to 120 calls, half of which involved container fires. Batlle described the night as "intense, but calm".
The emergency number 112 received 10,131 calls related to the celebration by 8:00 AM, generating 5,113 incidents. Barcelona had the most calls (2,113), followed by L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (781).
For the first time, surveillance cameras along the waterfront were operational throughout the night to prevent crime and enhance security. Additionally, the presence of Guardia Urbana and Firefighter personnel was increased.
Beyond the beaches, various districts celebrated the eve in more traditional ways. In Barceloneta, the Diables i Diablesses organized a protest festival, criticizing housing prices that are displacing residents, according to Esther Jorquera, a member of the group.