Sewage Spill Prompts Malibu Beach Closure

A sewage spill prompted the closure of a 100-yard stretch of the beach in Malibu Tuesday.

Los Angeles County health officials were notified Tuesday by Malibu city officials that an unknown amount of sewage may have entered the ocean at 19830 Pacific Coast Highway, at Big Rock Drive.

The precautionary closure will be in effect until at least 5 p.m. Thursday as workers test bacteria levels.

"We are asking people to avoid entering or swimming in the ocean in the area immediately surrounding 19830 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu,'' said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Department of Public Health. "Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of the people who visit the beach and water areas. Once we determine bacteria levels in the water have returned to normal, we will remove the beach advisory.''

Residences line the ocean side of that stretch of Pacific Coast Highway and the department did not provide further information about the source of the spill.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day at (800) 525-5662 or at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach.

-City News Service