THREE Denia beaches were closed for swimming on Tuesday after fecal contamination was discovered in the water.

Red flags have been hoisted at Les Marines, Punta del Raset, and Els Molins.

Denia council received a report from the Environment Ministry’s Bathing Water Quality Service that samples taken on Monday revealed contamination levels above the permitted limit.

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They were said to have ‘abnormally high values’.

The closures come after heavy rain and hailstorms on Saturday that affected the local sewage system.

Municipal technicians are preparing a report to be presented to beaches councillor, Pepe Domenech.

Lifeguards are warning bathers about the swimming ban assisted by the Denia Policia Local operating on quad bikes.

The ban will run until the next set of water tests are completed and passed onto Denia council.

Last Thursday down the Alicante province coast, discharges closed Solsida beach in Altea and the bathing area of Les Fonts de l’Algar, with both reopening the next day.

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A TURTLE is recovering at Oceanografic Valencia after swallowing a balloon which nearly killed it.

Bathers at Torrevieja’s Los Locos beach spotted the in-distress loggerhead last Friday and alerted lifeguards.

The animal- aged around a year- was in a very weak state after ingesting part of the helium balloon.

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Oceanografic Foundation staff did a 400 kilometre round-trip to bring the turtle back with them.

Once at their base, vets carried out tests including an ultrasound analysis.

Part of the balloon was able to be removed but the rest- including a string attached to it- was left to come out ‘naturally’.

The Foundation’s Borja Yebras, said: “The turtle arrived very thin, dehydrated and unable to eat with the balloon causing a serious internal infection.”

“We are treating it with medication, fluids and controlled feeding as well as constantly monitoring its condition,” Yebras added.

The sad case reflects the increasing problems in marine environment such as the presence of plastic waste which animals confuse with food.

“Releasing a balloon may seem like an innocent gesture, but these objects can end up being a death trap for many species,” said Yebras.

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A FIREFIGHTER has died as emergency services continue to battle a wildfire in southern Catalunya equivalent to the size of over 4,500 football pitches.

Antonio Serrano, a 46-year-old member of the Active Forest Prevention Team (EPAF) from Granollers fire station, north of Barcelona, died on Thursday afternoon after falling over 20 metres when a rock he was sitting on gave way.

He was taken to Verge de la Cinta hospital in nearby Tortosa by helicopter, but sadly succumbed to his injuries.

Officials announced the news at a press conference on Thursday evening, where they also said an investigation would be launched into the man’s death.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was among those to pay tribute to the firefighter, saying on X: “I deeply regret the death of a firefighter during the extinguishing of the fire in Paüls.

READ MORE: Firefighters in Andalucia warn of ‘one of the most dangerous seasons in decades’

“My deepest condolences to his family and colleagues at the Catalan Fire Service.

“Thank you to the tremendous work carried out by firefighters and emergency services in fighting fires.”

Catalan president Salvador Illa also paid his condolences and announced a day of mourning across the region.

Serrano is the third person to die in wildfires in Catalunya this month after two farmers were killed in Segarra last week.

The current blaze, located in Paüls, has burnt over 3,300 hectares of land since it broke out on Monday, including hundreds of hectares in the Ports Nature Park.

One town was put into lockdown for 48 hours as the flames edged closer.

Thankfully, firefighters have since brought the inferno under control.

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