Florida Beach Warning

Beach ClosedPosted August 23, 2006 at 06:16 AM By CHRIS CHMURAcchmura@tbo.com A stretch of shoreline in Manatee County is off-limits to swimmers this morning. County workers closed the coast between Manatee Public Beach and Coquina overnight because they say an unknown substance may pose a health hazard. Public Safety Director Karen Windon described the puzzling goop as something that feels like petroleum jelly. It has “left a burning sensation on the skin of local officials on scene,” she said. It is unclear whether the discovery is related to Red Tide, which has recently been spreading north from the Ft. Myers area. The beaches will be closed until mid-morning at the earliest. Windon says police officers will be on patrol to prevent people from jumping into the sticky mess. County scientists will be testing the water today. Stay with TBO.com for developments.

Manatee beaches closed this morningManatee County, Florida - Four miles of beach from Holmes Beach south to Coquina Beach will be closed at least until mid-morning Wednesday.Manatee County public safety offcials are investigating an unknown substance in the water. The scope of the situation will not be known until daylight, however until an evaluation is complete local residents and visitors should stay out of the water. Officials say a 700 yard swath of the substance is moving south from 28th St. and Gulf Drive.Police officers will be present to prevent people from having contact with the water, as an element of caution until more information is available on the scope and type of the substance. Water samples were collected for testing and evaluation. "Nodules of a substance with the consistency of Vaseline were seen on the beach which left a burning sensation on the skin of local officials on scene," according to the Manatee County Department of Public Safety.Tampa Bay's 10 News