Bathers were still swimming at Qajjenza bay in Birżebbuġa at least half an hour after the coast there was closed to the public because of a reported oil spill at San Luċjan terminal.

The official closure notice was issued by both Transport Malta and the Environmental Health Directorate after 3pm. No signs or officials were seen on site when a photographer from Times of Malta took pictures of people in the water soon after 4pm.

The transport watchdog said it was investigating the cause of the reported spill at the San Luċjan terminal.

Port inspectors went on site to monitor the clean-up operation that was being handled by the terminal operator, it added.

The oil spill was contained but the cause had not yet been identified, the regulator said. Tests were being carried out to assess whether there was an underwater pipeline breach, it added.

The Environmental Health Directorate said bathing was prohibited pending the clean-up operation adding and that tests were ongoing to establish whether the quality of the water was fit for bathing.

Personnel from the Environmental Health Directorate, the Civil Protection Department and Transport Malta were monitoring the area, the three entities said.

Last month, Pretty Bay, also in Birżebbuġa, was closed for a few days after a leak from a container carrying chemicals in the nearby Freeport. The bay was closed by the Civil Protection Department on June 12, but it was only late on June 14 that the Environmental Health Department issued an official statement saying the bay would remain closed pending tests.