Spain: Official apologises after disinfecting beach from bleach

A Spanish official apologisedfor spraying the local beach with diluted bleach in an attempt to protect residents from Covid-19 after an outcry regarding the decision.

The picturesque fishing village of Zahara de los Atunes, near Cadiz, used tractors to spray more than 2 kilometresof beach with a bleach solutionas officials readied for the release of the country’s children after six weeks of confinement.

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Environmentalists say the move caused "brutal damage" to the local ecosystem.

Spain has been among the countries hardest hit by coronavirus, withmore than 23,800deaths.

Also see:Children reclaim streets in Spain after government eases lockdown

The governmentimposed lockdown measures in mid-March,and this week the measures were loosenedto allow children under the age of 14daily outings of up to an hour.

An official with the regional government in Andalucía said it was looking into the attempted disinfection amid claims that the local officials and business association that carried it out did not have the necessary permissions.

However, according to local media reports, the Andalusian regional governmentis alsoconsidering fining the local authority for its action.

Greenpeace in Spain drew a comparison with controversial statements by US President Donald Trump, who suggested that injecting patients with disinfectant might help treat coronavirus.

"Fumigating beaches in the middle of the breeding season for birds or the development of the invertebrate network that will support coastal fishing... is not one of Trump's ideas. It is happening in Zahara de los Atunes," it tweeted.