Two Lanzarote beaches closed yesterday

Two beaches were closed yesterday during the height of the heatwave.

Playa de Matagorda in Puerto del Carmen was closed after a large slick of “decomposing microalgae” was detected, prompting lifesavers to hoist the red flag.

Meanwhile, at Playa de la Curita in Playa Honda, the beach was briefly closed after bathers reported seeing a “large jellyfish” in the water.

Emergency services later said that it was a “large squid”, and local media have claimed it was a cluster of squid eggs. However, Gazette Life’s expert marine biologist has identified the creature as a “salp or a pyrosome” neither of which present any risk to humans.