The Spanish city of alicante, a major tourist hub on the Costa Blanca, is grappling with an unsettling issue: the discovery of dead rats on its beaches. The situation has prompted questions about the cause and potential risks to public health.

Beaches Affected; City Claims Isolated Incidents

The dead rats were found on three coastal sections, including Urbanova beach, Cocó beach, and near the Real Club de Regatas sailing school. In response, Cristina Cutanda, a spokeswoman for the Alicante city council, stated that these were isolated incidents, attributing them to recent heavy rains. according to Alicante Diario, Cutanda pointed to the nearly 40 liters of rain per square meter that fell last Wednesday.

Cutanda explained that “when the rats appear on the beach, after heavy rainfall, it was about a natural phenomenon”, and insisted the situation was “not directly related to the sewage maintenance.” She added that the city’s flood control systems functioned as designed during the intense rainfall. “even in the most well -kept sewer in the world, this situation occurs because rats are an integral part of the urban ecosystem and are looking for refuge in the sewage system,” she said.

“Even in the most well -kept sewer in the world, this situation occurs because rats are an integral part of the urban ecosystem…”

Opposition Calls for Action

The local opposition has strongly criticized the city administration’s response, citing concerns about public health and the potential damage to Alicante’s reputation as a tourist destination. Manolo Copé, spokesman for the EU-Podem party, took to the platform X, writing: “We deny the collapse of the sewage system in Alicante: the overflows are unclear water into the sea and even dead rats appear on our beaches.” Copé accused the city council of Alicante of inaction, stating, “We demand solutions,” and shared a video of a dead rat in the sea.

While there is no definitive evidence of a widespread rat infestation in Alicante, some social media users have reported seeing numerous rats in the city. In 2021, Murcia Today reported on a significant rat population in Alicante’s city center. The city council has stated that beach cleaning efforts have been initiated and that the water quality in the bay is “wholly healthy.” A triathlon event with over a thousand participants was recently held in alicante without any reported issues or rat sightings.