Wild degassing? Accident ? The origin of an episode of marine pollution with hydrocarbons, detected on Sunday, on the shore of Menton, near Nice, was still “undetermined” on Monday, according to the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes. “At first sight, these are discharges at sea”, advanced for its part the municipality, in response to a comment posted on Facebook. In any case, it decided to maintain the bathing ban “as long as the analysis results [de l’eau] will not be positive.
The alert was given around 3 p.m., Sunday, on the Borrigo beach, between the casino and the Elisée-Reclus garden. Traces of “surface iridescence and some solid residues in suspension” were observed “over a length of 300 meters” and only “20 meters from the edge”, detailed the state services. An operation by firefighters, municipal police and teams from the port of Menton was immediately carried out to try to treat these pollutants.
In the process, the mayor signed an order for the “temporary ban on swimming and nautical activities”. It is still in effect. Requested this Monday by 20 minutes, the municipality explains that it is awaiting the latest analysis results to decide. And “until they are positive, the ban will not be lifted”, she specifies.