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Date Published: 30/05/2024

Cadiz beach evacuated after military explosive washes up

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Shocked swimmers discovered the unidentified object on Santa María del Mar beach

Cadiz beach evacuated after military explosive washes up

Holidaymakers hoping for a relaxing day by the sea got more than they bargained for on Cádiz’s Santa María del Mar beach when Local and National Police officers rushed to the area and quickly evacuated the entire shore shortly after 10.30am. The reason: a couple of eagle-eyed bathers spotted what appeared to be some sort of military device in the breakwaters of the city beach, and authorities were worried it could explode.

The Navy Diving Unit was immediately called in to examine – and possibly detonate – the mysterious object.

After almost two hours of nail-biting inspection, the experts determined that the device was safe and could be removed. According to official sources, the object “measures one and a half metres in length with a diameter of 3 inches, which match the dimensions of possible projectiles.”

However, it was impossible to tell on the spot whether the object was actually a missile or just an innocent object, as bits of concrete and vegetation were stuck to the outside. It has since been removed from the beach and a team of experts is working to identify its origin.

By law, only the Diving Unit of the Spanish Navy are permitted to deactivate or move any suspicious devices like this one, so the beachgoers who notified the emergency services when it was discovered absolutely did the right thing. There’s always a risk that such devices can still be live, so they should never be touched or tampered with.

The Playa de Santa María del Mar is located in the bustling metropolis of Cádiz city and is popular with tourists and locals alike. The beach was reopened just before noon and the shocked bathers were allowed to get on with their day.

Situations like this are anything but rare. Back in 2018, a team specialised in deactivating explosives from the Cádiz diving unit neutralised an anti-tank device that appeared 13 metres deep off the coast of Aguadú de Melilla.

In other news: Russia could attack UK military targets over arms shipment to Ukraine

Image: Junta de Andalucía

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