What is the jet of water that has been seen in the sea off Morlaco in Malaga?

This week, a powerful jet of water was seen in the sea off the coast of Morlaco, in the capital of Malaga, which ... rose several meters above sea level, as seen in the video recorded by a witness. The spout or geyser also continued to release water for quite a few minutes. What causes this strange phenomenon?

SUR has investigated, asking meteorologists from Aemet, officials from Emasa, the Port Authority, and the Maritime Captaincy; as well as from the Aula del Mar, the Institute of Oceanography, and the Faculty of Sciences. They also consulted witnesses who were on the beaches these days, through social networks.

After inquiries, several more or less feasible theories have emerged. The most repeated by the consulted marine and nautical specialists is that it could be due to the bursting of an underwater outfall, which, when broken, with the pressure of the wastewater, could have formed that high column of water. This is mainly indicated by marine biologists.

However, from the municipal water company, Emasa, which is responsible for these facilities, a spokesperson assures that they have no record of any incident or failure in these structures this week.

In fact, these sources suggest that it could be a gas escape from some pipeline running through that area, which, with the pressure, would have created that water cannon. This theory has also not been confirmed.

Mystery Solved

From the port side, neither in the Port nor in the Captaincy is there any record of any ship that could have caused this striking scene. While at Aemet, it is also ruled out that it was the product of a waterspout or other meteorological phenomenon.

Finally, a reader who was these days on La Misericordia beach solved the mystery. From his perspective, it was clearly visible (he even recorded it on video) how a small boat equipped with a cannon, probably for fighting fires on other ships or nautical facilities, was testing the powerful jet by shooting the water high into the air. Hence, from Morlaco, only the geyser was visible, but not its origin. Mystery solved.