By Jacob Kubeka –
According to a regional official quoted by local media, said that over 150 individuals were hospitalized after swimming in filthy seawater at Tenes in northwestern Algeria on Sunday.
Three beaches and a desalination plant in Chlef, which includes Tenes, have been closed, and under investigation according to reports.
Local government official Lakhdar Seddas told journalists that “149 people suffered nausea, fever and redness of the eyes and were taken to hospital”.
According to Seddas, roughly 50 people have since been discharged from the hospital, and they may have become unwell as a result of the filthy seawaters. He stated that suspicions were focused on a ship transporting animals that had lately landed at Tenes port.
The Tanzanian-flagged Barhom II, according to the website Ennahar Online, had arrived from the southern French town of Sete.
Twenty-eight divers and seven civil defence workers who were sent to investigate were also reported to have become unwell.
An official statement revealed that, environment ministry team had taken air and water samples from the port at Tenes, beaches and other locations.