Two Sydney beaches closed after hundreds of black golf ball sized spheres wash ashore
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Updated Wed, October 16, 2024 at 2:52 PM GMT+7

Authorities have shut down two beaches in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday after hundreds of black golf ball sized spheres washed ashore. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said authorities were not sure what the spherical, dark black tarry balls were, but as a precaution, Coogee Beach and Gordons Bay Beach in the city's east were closed to the public.

People visit Coogee Beach after authorities closed it down to the public in Sydney on October 16, 2024. Hundreds of mysterious black tar-like balls have washed up on a popular Sydney beach, prompting lifeguards to close the strand to swimmers. "Mysterious, black, ball-shaped debris" began appearing on Coogee Beach on October 15 in the afternoon the local mayor said, leaving flummoxed authorities scrambling to find out what they might be, and where they may have come from. (Saeed KHAN)

People visit Coogee Beach after authorities closed it down to the public in Sydney on October 16, 2024. Hundreds of mysterious black tar-like balls have washed up on a popular Sydney beach, prompting lifeguards to close the strand to swimmers. "Mysterious, black, ball-shaped debris" began appearing on Coogee Beach on October 15 in the afternoon the local mayor said, leaving flummoxed authorities scrambling to find out what they might be, and where they may have come from. (Saeed KHAN) (Saeed KHAN/AFP/AFP)More
Hundreds of mysterious black tar-like balls have washed up on two popular Sydney beaches, prompting lifeguards to close the strands to swimmers.

"Mysterious, black, ball-shaped debris" began appearing on Coogee Beach on Tuesday afternoon the local mayor said, leaving flummoxed Australian authorities scrambling to find out what they might be, and where they may have come from.

Hundreds of golf-to-cricket-ball-sized spheres could be seen littering the coast, which is usually thronged with Sydneysiders and tourists.

Instead, a few seagulls wandered among the spheres, pecking and examining.

The balls were also spotted at nearby Gordon's Bay, an aquatic reserve popular for snorkelling and fishing, which was also closed.