Decomposing sargassum overwhelms Barahona promenade with foul odor

Massive amounts of decomposing sargassum have covered the waterfront of Barahona in the Dominican Republic, producing an unbearable stench that extends several kilometres inland. Residents report difficulty breathing and exposure to toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, raising health concerns. The algae also threatens the local tourism industry, with once‑popular beaches now littered with brown sludge and plastic debris.

Scientists from the University of South Florida documented record‑high sargassum levels across the tropical Atlantic in April, noting that the phenomenon has spread throughout the Caribbean and toward the Gulf of Mexico. The Dominican Ministry of Environment’s contingency plan advises collecting the algae at sea for productive uses, but locals are demanding immediate government intervention to clean the beaches and mitigate the odor.

The situation underscores the broader regional challenge of the “Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt,” which is causing environmental, economic and public‑health impacts across multiple coastal communities.