Massive sewage spill closes California beaches

The leak occurred in the city of Carson and was caused by the failure of a 48-inch sewer main line.

Beachgoers leave Cabrillo Beach after the city of Long Beach closed the beaches due to a report of a spill of between two and four million gallons of untreated sewage into a canal in Carson, in Long Beach California, U.S. December 31, 2021. 

A massive spill of raw sewage in California on Friday forced the city of Long Beach to close all swimming areas at nearby beaches, officials said.

Between 2 million and 4 million gallons (7.6 million to 15 million liters) of raw sewage leaked into the Dominguez Channel, which empties into the Los Angeles harbor, it was discovered on Thursday, according to a press release from the City of Long Beach.