Nine popular beaches in Sydney, Australia, including the renowned Manly beach, were closed on Tuesday following the sudden appearance of mysterious white and grey ball-shaped debris along the shoreline.
The closure comes during the height of the summer holiday season, affecting beachgoers and tourists alike.
The Northern Beaches Council announced that it is working to safely remove the debris, describing most of the objects as marble-sized, although some were reportedly larger.
A statement from the council urged caution, advising beach visitors to avoid contact with the material.
Sydney’s beaches, celebrated worldwide for their golden sand and pristine waters, have drawn significant numbers of tourists this summer.
As a precaution, the council has temporarily shut Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne, and North Narrabeen beaches.
Authorities are collaborating with the state’s environmental agency to investigate the nature of the debris, with samples already collected for testing.
The incident follows a similar event last October, when several beaches, including the iconic Bondi, were closed due to the discovery of thousands of black balls on the shore.
Investigations at the time revealed that the black balls were composed of fatty acids and other materials linked to wastewater, including substances commonly found in cosmetics, cleaning products, and food waste.
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