Overview
- Cofepris, which published its seasonal beach water report on Saturday, analyzed 2,358 samples at 289 high-traffic beaches and found 288 suitable for recreation with Playa Tijuana classified as not suitable.
- Following the federal findings, Baja California’s health secretary said San Antonio del Mar, Baja Malibú and Playa Blanca in southern Tijuana pose a health risk and will have brigades on site to advise visitors not to enter the water.
- Lab results cited by officials showed high enterococci levels at three Tijuana sampling points, including readings of 1,312, 523 and 2,387 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters, which signal fecal contamination that can cause stomach, skin and other infections.
- Tourists still crowded popular Tijuana spots during Semana Santa, while some vendors reported slower sales as contamination alerts led more people to stay on the sand instead of swimming.
- Authorities stressed that this monitoring focused on bacteria in seawater and is separate from the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil-spill cleanup, where the government reports collecting about 700 tons of contaminated material across 39 beaches.