Miami beaches out of bounds

Don't move, madam: Bathers warned to stay out of the water

Swimming has been banned along 40km (25 miles) of Miami beaches after marine construction workers drilled through a sewage pipe.

More than 95 million litres (25 million gallons) of raw sewage spilled into Biscayne Bay on Tuesday, causing a health alert.

Workers have partially re-routed the sewage through other parts of the Maimi-Dade drainage system.

Some of the finest beaches in the US are out of bounds

Engineers hope to seal the hole in the 140-centimetre (54-inch) pipe by Friday. but even once the pipe is repaired, the contamination could persist for some time.

"It's too early to say when the beaches can be opened," said Samir Elmir, administrator of Miami-Dade County Environmental Health.

The ruptured pipe carries sewage from Miami Beach and adjoining areas to a treatment centre across Biscayne Bay on Virginia Key.

The public was urged to avoid all contact with the water - such as fishing, swimming, wading or diving - until water sampling indicated the ocean was safe again.

Water tests will have to show safe levels for at least two days before bathing is permitted.

While the beaches were closed to swimmers in much of the popular tourist areas of Miami Beach, beaches to the north of Miami Beach remained open.

Instead of saving swimmers in distress, Miami Beach lifeguards have been busy trying to stop people swimming in the first place.

"It's not easy to keep people out of the water," lifeguard Patrick Maher said.

"It's quite an added responsibility for us."