Beach Still Closed After Major Sewage Spill Near Palos Verdes

TORRANCE, CA — Authorities closed RAT Beach at Malaga Creek Wednesday morning after a sewage spill.

The closure began around 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division.

The beach was still closed Wednesday evening, and would remain closed "until bacterial levels meet health standards," according to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. It was not immediately clear how long the closure could last.

Some 5,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Malaga Creek Tuesday night, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Additional details about the spill were not immediately available.

"I am getting more information about this incident and why we had another sewage spill impact our beautiful coastline," Hahn said in a Tweet.

RAT Beach is located in Torrance below Palos Verdes Estates.

The spill prompted beach warnings for a number of nearby beaches that could have been affected by the spill, including the Santa Monica Pier, Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey, Wilshire Blvd Storm Drain at Santa Monica Beach (North Tower 12), the Redondo Beach Pier and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

Lifeguards and Baywatch Rescue were dispatched to the area Wednesday morning to notify beach patrons of the closure, according to the lifeguard division.

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