Back to news
Marbella launches €400,000 beach clean-up after severe storm damage
Marbella has begun a major beach restoration project costing more than €400,000 to repair extensive storm damage ahead of the peak tourist season.
The town hall (Ayuntamiento) is prioritising what it calls “coastal recuperation” after weeks of heavy storms and downpours severely impacted more than 27 kilometres of coastline. Mayor Ángeles Muñoz said the municipality is deploying extensive resources following “one of the most demanding winters the city has experienced in recent years.”
Heavy machinery and sand replacement
The clean-up operation, currently estimated at around €411,000, includes:
Removal of reeds, plant debris and storm runoff
Use and rental of heavy machinery
Sand sifting equipment to optimise beach repair
Transport of sand from surplus areas
Replacement of damaged pathways and beach equipment
According to Muñoz, the municipality is covering the full cost of the works, claiming that the Spanish central government has “not contributed a single euro” to the recovery effort.
Severe erosion in hardest-hit areas
Among the worst-affected stretches is Artola-Cabopino Beach, where up to five metres of coastal fringe has disappeared and certain sections have lost as much as 1.2 metres in height.
Storm damage has also caused setbacks of up to 10 metres along parts of the coastline, exposing sewage pipes in some areas and raising safety concerns.
“We are working as hard as possible to guarantee safety, accessibility and quality on our beaches before the start of high season,” Muñoz reiterated.
With tourism beginning to ramp up, local officials are racing to ensure Marbella’s beaches are restored in time for the influx of visitors.
