Drones and Police Patrols to Guard Sagunto's Northern Beaches Against Bonfires for the First Time
Sagunto's Municipal Police is deploying a dedicated drone and patrol unit at the beaches of Almardà, Corinto and Malvarrosa on Midsummer Night, following a request by local residents' group Almardà Viva.
For the first time on Midsummer Night, the beaches of Almardà, Corinto and Malvarrosa will have a patrol and a drone assigned exclusively to that stretch of Sagunto's coastline. Municipal Police councillor María José Carrera and the beach inspector confirmed the deployment. The drone will start operating in the afternoon, broadcasting audio reminders about current beach rules, then switch to aerial surveillance after dark.
All three beaches carry N1 classification — the highest environmental protection tier — as they border the Marjal dels Moros wetlands, listed in the EU Natura 2000 network as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for endangered bird species. Bonfires have been banned across Sagunto's coastline for years, yet enforcement on Midsummer Night had been minimal until now.
The urgency is heightened by the recent regeneration of the northern shoreline with over one million cubic metres of sand using European funds. Environmental group Acció Ecologista Agró had also demanded the council enforce the ban along the entire coast. Reporting: El Periódico de Aquí.