FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A sticky, black substance that washed ashore Saturday prompted officials to close a stretch of Fort Lauderdale Beach as crews worked to determine its source.
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Cellphone videos posted on social media Saturday morning showed the substance scattered along the shoreline.
By the afternoon, beachgoers reported finding balled-up pieces of what appeared to be tar.
The city of Fort Lauderdale responded by closing the beach from Port Everglades to Riomar Street, raising red flags to indicate no swimming allowed.
“Now that you guys told me that there’s oil in the water, I’m not going to go in, because I don’t know what the oil is,” said beachgoer Elise Burnett.
Despite the restrictions, lifeguards struggled to keep swimmers out of the water.
“They were being really hot and heavy with it at the beginning and then everyone started going in,” said Madison Bronson, another beachgoer.
Some visitors said they were unaware of the situation or willing to take the risk.
“No, no idea. Now you’re making me feel like I can feel it. That’s a little nerve-racking,” said Sam Wiedorfer.
Fort Lauderdale officials said the U.S. Coast Guard has been notified and is leading the response, as the situation involves a potential oil spill.
Officials in Deerfield Beach have also been contacted after reports of a similar substance washing up there.
“I feel fine, though, there shouldn’t be oil in the water. We need to protect our oceans, protect the beaches,” said beachgoer Milana Novick.
By late Saturday afternoon, lifeguards downgraded the warning flags to yellow and purple, signaling that swimming was allowed but with increased caution.
